HEALTH CARE REFORM FOR REFUGEES
Refugee status is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee, are of special humanitarian concern to the
Refugees, as lawfully present immigrants, are eligible for the same protections and benefits under the Affordable Care Act as
QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR REFUGEES—UNDER THE NEW LAW, REFUGEES ENJOY:
· The same protections and benefits in the insurance market, such as prohibiting lifetime benefit limits and rescissions.
· Eligibility to purchase health insurance in Health Insurance Exchanges beginning in 2014 if they otherwise qualify (i.e., they purchase their own insurance or work for a small employer with fewer than 50 workers).
· New public and private health insurance coverage options beginning in 2014. Many refugees will qualify for premium tax credits to purchase coverage.
· Continued access to their current private health insurance plan and physician if they are satisfied with their current care.
INSURANCE SECURITY—BEGINNING IN 2014:
· Refugees whose incomes are above 133% of the poverty line but who lack employer-based or private health insurance will be able to purchase affordable coverage through Health Insurance Exchanges. Premium and cost-sharing tax credits will be available for refugees and others with incomes between 133% and 400% of the federal poverty level to make the purchase of quality insurance affordable.
· Medicaid coverage will be available to anyone under 65 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, including refugees. Because even poor adults often are ineligible for Medicaid, many adult refugees become uninsured after their eight months of Refugee Medical Assistance is exhausted. Starting in 2014, Medicaid will be available to anyone – including parents and childless adults – who meets the income criteria.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP) EXTENDED
· The law increases federal funding for CHIP from 2015 to 2019. CHIP will continue to provide affordable, quality coverage to many children in refugee families.
AN END TO DISCRIMINATION BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
· For health insurance plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010, all new insurance plans and existing group health plans are prohibited from denying coverage to children under age 19, including refugee children, on the basis of pre-existing conditions.
· In 2010, the law establishes a temporary high-risk pool program to provide affordable coverage to individuals who have been uninsured for at least six months and have a pre-existing medical condition.
· For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010, insurance plans cannot impose lifetime dollar limits on coverage, and all group health plans must limit the waiting period for health insurance coverage to a maximum of 90 days.
· Beginning in 2014, insurance companies will be banned from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on underlying health status.
COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE
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