Nearly lost in the dust-up over contraceptives and Super Tuesday was a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services that found 105 Million Americans have benefited from one of the newest protections offered by health care reform.
The end of lifetime limits on benefits has assisted 70 million Americans in large-employer plans, 25 million in small-employer plans, and 10 million with policies purchased on the individual market. In other words, a whole lot of Americans unknowingly had policies that would quietly sneak up on them and cut off their coverage if you reached the insurer’s lifetime limit.
The previous insurance company practice of placing limits hit people with chronic diseases, particularly cancer, especially hard, according to HHS.
In Michigan alone, more than 3.5 million people no longer face an insurance plan that can set limits and kick you off the plan when the insurer determines that you have become too expensive.
“This study shows us how much progress we’ve made under the Affordable Care Act,” said Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack. ”Three years ago, the majority of Americans had lifetime limits imposed on their insurance plans. Now, there are none.
“Before the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans lived with the constant fear that their insurance wouldn’t be there when they needed it most. That fear has been replaced with the security, especially among those with the most severe conditions, that comes with knowing an insurance company won’t come between you and your doctor.”
