Like Your Health Care Policy? You May Be Losing It

Many people who buy their own health insurance could get surprises in the mail this fall: cancellation notices because their current policies aren’t up to the basic standards of President Barack Obama’s health care law.

They, and some small businesses, will have to find replacement plans. That has some state insurance officials worried about consumer confusion.

Rollout of the Affordable Care Act is going full speed ahead. New insurance markets called exchanges are to open in every state this fall. Middle-class consumers who don’t get coverage on the job will be able to pick private health plans, while low-income people will be steered to an expanded version of Medicaid in states that accept it.

The goal is to cover most of the nation’s nearly 50 million uninsured, but even Obama says there will be bumps in the road. And discontinued insurance plans could be another bump.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the May 30th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.