Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as “Obamacare” or the “Health Care Reform Law,” was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

Major provisions of the Act that directly affect children are already in effect including not allowing pre-existing condition exclusions for children under 19, extending dependent coverage until age 26, and expanding preventive services for children, among other provisions.

Please see the federal government’s website for more information about healthcare reform at www.healthcare.gov. For more information on the basics about the health reform law, please see the Kaiser Family Foundation’s website for a summary of the law and a timeline for implementation.

Although healthcare reform is the law, it is being implemented over several years. Federal agencies are required to develop regulations and rules that will help guide and administer the intent of the law.