ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
The milestone Supreme Court decision yesterday to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act promises to increase medical coverage opportunities for Americans across all demographics, but the elderly may be particularly benefited by this new law.
According to a recent Reuters article, Obamacare helps protect Americans over the age of 50 from high insurance premiums, disqualifications, and coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions. Lower income elders could especially benefit from the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid that will cover childless adults and other previously excepted conditions. In California, this expansion will be accompanied by a Health Benefit Exchange that will facilitate purchasing health insurance beginning in January of 2014.
Obamacare will provide further benefits to individuals on Medicare – notably, the Part D prescription drug program, by encouraging pharmaceutical companies to discount drugs to Medicare participants who fall into the coverage gap of annual drug spending. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this part of the law has already saved seniors $2.1 billion collectively on medication purchases.
Further projected improvements to healthcare for seniors include Medicare’s long-range health plan, and expanded preventive services that include fully covered annual check-ups, mammograms, and prostate cancer screenings with no additional charge.
The Evans Law Firm focuses on elder abuse litigation in San Francisco and throughout California. If you or a loved one have suffered elder abuse in California, contact the Evans Law Firm at 415-441-8669 or 800-50-EVANS for a free and confidential consultation, or email info@.
