The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act – also known as Obamacare – is an exciting step forward for women, men and families across the country. The ACA makes it easier for those who are uninsured to get affordable health insurance. These plans cover things that are important to you, including birth control with no co-pay, doctor visits, hospitalizations, maternity care, ER care, and other prescriptions. And, under the law, insurance plans will no longer be able to deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions like diabetes or cancer.

If you live in Connecticut, visit accesshealthct.com to learn more.

If you live in Rhode Island, visit healthsourceri.com to learn more.

If you're uninsured, you may be able to get health insurance through an expanded Medicaid program or through the new online health insurance marketplace.

There are many factors in determining which health insurance plan is right for you and how much you'll have to pay. Here are some of the things that are used to determine how you'll be covered:

• Your age
• How many people there are in your family
• How much money you make each year

You can now shop for health insurance and compare plans through online "marketplaces" that will be set up in each state. The marketplace will allow you to get information about each plan and to compare all the plans side-by-side.

You may also be eligible to receive tax credits, based on your income and family size, to help you buy low-cost health insurance coverage.

For example, a single person who makes up to $46,000 a year or a family of four earning up to $94,000 a year may be able to get tax credits.

The only requirements to get insurance through the marketplace are:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully living in the U.S.
• You currently cannot be incarcerated.

Some state Medicaid programs were expanded to cover people under age 65, including:

• People with disabilities
• Individuals who make $15,000 or less per year
• Families of four who make $31,000 or less per year

The Medicaid expansion may help those whose income is currently above their state's eligibility levels. Medicaid programs vary by state, so check with your state Medicaid office for more information.

To learn more about your state Medicaid program and other options available to you, use the federal government's insurance and coverage finder on healthcare.gov or visit Medicaid.gov.

As part of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans must provide birth control with no co-pay.

The full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods, such as the pill, the ring, and the IUD, may be available to you without a co-pay or other out-of-pocket expenses. The benefit begins at different times for different health care plans. Check with your health insurance company to find out if your plan covers this new benefit.

The best way to find out whether your plan is covering birth control without a co-pay is to call your insurance company.

Enrollment occurs annually. If applying for Medicaid or due to a qualifying life event, enrollment continues year round. 

Connecticut residents can visit accesshealthct.com, the web site for the Connecticut Exchange, to view a list of available plans.

Rhode Island residents can visit healthsourceri.org, to see plans in Rhode Island.