RICHMOND — Certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Action of 2010 have been in place for nearly a year. Other key aspects of this federal legislation, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are forthcoming in the next few years. The State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance has prepared a free publication to help explain the health care reform changes that may affect your health insurance plan.

The 2011 Virginia General Assembly revised the Commonwealth’s laws to enforce what are called the immediate provisions of these federally-enacted laws. These changes were mainly effective for plan years and policy years that began on or after September 23, 2010. These immediate provisions are now explained in a free consumer publication prepared by the Bureau. Entitled “Federal Health Care Reform – Do Recent Changes Have You Puzzled?,” the publication helps consumers better understand how their coverage might be affected. The publication addresses such issues as insurance cancellations, annual and lifetime limits on benefits, costs for preventive services, choice of health care providers, coverage for children with pre-existing conditions, and much more.

Not all health insurance plans have changed. Grandfathered health benefit plans or policies are not required to meet certain provisions. The publication describes what is meant by the term “grandfathered health benefit plan or policy.” It also explains ways to determine whether your health benefit plan or policy is grandfathered, and which immediate provisions affect grandfathered health benefit plans or policies. The publication also includes a glossary of frequently used health insurance terms.

Funding for the publication was provided to the Bureau through a federal Consumer Assistance Program grant established under the ACA. The publication is just one of many consumer guides and other materials available on the SCC website regarding federal health care reform and a variety of other insurance-related topics. For a copy of this free publication or other consumer materials offered by the Bureau of Insurance, visit the Bureau’s website at www.scc.virginia.gov/boi or call toll-free at 1-877-310-6560 or in Richmond at (804) 371-9092. Consumers who are hearing or speech impaired may call through the SCC’s Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) at (804) 371-9206. This document and other guides are also available by writing to the State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance, P.O. Box 1157, Richmond, Virginia 23218. The Bureau can also assist non English-speaking consumers with questions or concerns regarding insurance either on its toll-free line or at its main telephone number (804) 371-9741.

The Bureau of Insurance also offers free consumer outreach programs on a number of insurance topics. Speakers are available to talk to your group or organization on the insurance topics of your choice, and provide answers to general questions regarding insurance. For more information, contact the Bureau’s Life and Health Insurance Outreach Coordinator, Olivia B. Claud at 804-371-9389 or by email at L&HOutreach@scc.virginia.gov.

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthcare.gov.

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