2011

Why We Need a Health Insurance Exchange

The Affordable Care Act calls for the creation of a competitive health insurance marketplace, called an "exchange," in every state by 2014. Consumers will greatly benefit from these exchanges. This fa...

The Basic Health Option: Will It Work for Low-Income Consumers?

The Affordable Care Act requires Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the exchanges to operate as seamlessly as possible for enrollees with incomes around 133 percent of pover...

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges

Advocates can help ensure that exchanges are consumer-friendly and transparent and that the plans sold in them give residents good value. These guides are for stakeholders who need to understand how t...

A Guide for State Advocates: State Demonstrations to Integrate Medicare and Medicaid

"Dual eligibles" have both Medicare and Medicaid. They are often the sickest and most vulnerable patients. And since neither program coordinates their care, this group has problems getting care in the...

Applying for Health Coverage Online: The Affordable Care Act Helps Americans Enroll

One goal of the Affordable Care Act is to eliminate enrollment barriers. The law requires states to each develop one streamlined online application for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Progra...

The Affordable Care Act: Patients’ Bill of Rights and Other Protections

The Affordable Care Act offers several new protections known as the "Patients' Bill of Rights." We published several fact sheets explaining these protections and how they can help consumers. This brie...

States Are Benefitting from Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

This fact sheet explains five provisions of the health care law that are already in effect and helping many Americans. These provisions do the following: allow children to stay on their parents' ...

Worry Less Spend Less: Out-of-Pocket Spending Caps Protect America’s Families

As health care costs have risen, more costs have been shifted to consumers, who must cope with higher deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance. To relieve consumers of some of this financial burden, ...

Navigators Need Not Be Licensed as Insurance Brokers or Agents

This brief explains the Affordable Care Act's requirement that state health insurance exchanges establish navigator programs to help consumers make informed choices. In some states, there's debate abo...

The Health Care Law: Good News for Caregivers

Are you one of the 52 million Americans who take care of a spouse, parent, or other relative? If so, you know that caregiving can take an emotional and financial toll. Caregivers lose wages, postpone ...