For most of us, politics and legislation aren’t really exciting topics of discussion. We zone out of current events, more interested in which celeb is dating who. We hear bits and pieces of the news, thinking SCOTUS who? ACA what? But with the Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday that the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA, Obamacare and healthcare reform) is constitutional, it’s important to realize how it will affect you.
Some of the key changes are:
- Young adults up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ insurance plan even if they aren't in school – no excuses, no exceptions! Before, you could only stay on your parents’ insurance if you were a full-time student or dependent in some other way. This made graduation day pretty nerve-wracking for a lot of people. What was supposed to be a joyous day of celebration would end up being more of a liability.
- Insurance companies are no longer allowed to turn down people seeking insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are basically any medical conditions that occurred or were present before an insurance plan was obtained or put into effect. This is great news, especially considering that 1 in 6 young adults has a chronic health condition, like asthma, cancer, or diabetes.
- Costs are expected to become more manageable, with low-income families being offered insurance coverage from Medicaid.
- Visiting your OB/GYN is even easier. Women can now go to an OB/GYN without needing a referral from their primary care doctor first, allowing you quicker access to screening, tests and birth control.
- Beginning August 1, many new preventive services will be available without costs including all FDA-approved birth control methods, domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling, HIV screening and counseling, STI counseling, and well-woman visits.
Are you worried about what all this means for your privacy and confidentiality? Don’t be. As a teen you have rights! Talk to your doctors and visit our know your rights section to learn more.
With the ACA comes ease of mind. You don’t have to worry about the possibility of getting sick and being uninsured, or not being able to afford insurance. Health is everyone’s main priority, and now we all have the right to have a healthy life.