Joslin Diabetes Innovation Congress 2013: Five Ways the Affordable Care Act Affects People with Diabetes

By Nancy Liu

Twitter summary: Confusion about the #ACA? Learn 5 simple ways it affects people with #diabetes

At the Joslin Innovation Congress this year, we heard from leaders in the field about new ideas, partnerships, and collaborations. Anne Filipic, the President of Enroll America, presented an impressive patient-friendly guide to the five ways the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) affects health insurance for the diabetes community.

Regardless of the controversy, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is moving ahead – or trying to. On October 1, the Health Insurance Exchanges opened for enrollment, and much confusion and chaos ensued. In the midst of finger pointing about website glitches and delays, the real question on our mind was simple: how will the health care law affect people with diabetes?  

For people with diabetes, the Affordable Care Act has five key implications:

1.    People cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This includes diabetes, as well as related risk factors that often occur with diabetes such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.

2.    There is free coverage for preventative care. All insurance plans will also cover an essential package that covers doctor’s visits, hospitalization, maternity care, emergency room care, and prescriptions.

3.    There are no lifetime limits. The law prohibits annual or lifetime dollar limits on the amount of care that people may receive from their insurance company.

4.    Young adults can stay on their parents’ plan until the age of 26.

5.    There are limits on the out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors.

The Affordable Care Act has the potential to improve access to healthcare, although challenges remain. You can learn more about coverage options by visiting www.healthcare.gov. The exchanges are open for enrollment until December 15 for coverage to start on January 1, 2014. Open enrollment will close on March 31, 2014 and after that date, people who do not have health coverage may have to pay a fee.

Have you had positive or negative experiences with the new health care exchanges or the Affordable Care Act? We’d love to hear about it – please email and let us know.