On March 23, 2010, the federal healthcare reform legislation, known as the Affordable Care Act, became law. The law is being implemented in phases between now and 2014, and some provisions are already in effect for Californians.

Benefits Available Today

• The law creates a voluntary long-term care insurance program–called CLASS–to provide cash benefits to adults who become disabled.
• Seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next 10 years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
• The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans for seniors on Medicare.
• The Community Care Transitions Program will help high-risk Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized avoid unnecessary readmissions by coordinating care and connecting patients to services in their communities.
• Californians age 19-26 can now stay on their parents’ health plans.
• Children under age 19 can no longer be denied health coverage due to a pre-exisitng condition.
• New health insurance policies can no longer impose lifetime limits on new benefits.
• Californians with serious medical conditions can now obtain coverage through a Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, if they are eligible.

Benefits Available in 2013

• To expand the number of Americans receiving preventive care, the law provides additional funding to the Medi-Cal program to help cover preventive services for patients at little or no cost.
• Under the new law, California will receive two more years of funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), also known as the Healthy Families Program, to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medi-Cal.

Health Reform Law in 2014

• Medi-Cal eligibility will be expanded. Californians who earn less than 133 percent of federal poverty level (annual income of about $14,856 for an individual and $30,657 for a family of four) will be eligible for Medi-Cal.
• Insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage because of a preexisting medical condition.
• Individuals will be required to get health insurance (through an employer-sponsored plan, a public program such as Medi-Cal, or by purchasing it on their own), or be subject to penalty.
• Large employers will be required to provide health insurance or be subject to potentional penalties.
• The California Health Benefit Exchange will help people compare and enroll in insurance plans.
• Federal subsidies will be provided to help qualifying indivdiuals, families and small business to afford health insurance.

Additional Resources

See which private, public and community programs meet your needs. This  tool was created to help consumers under the healthcare reform law.

Uninsured Californians with health problems may qualify for insurance through a temporary, state-run program. Contact the California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (800) 289-6574.