Did you celebrate August 1? You should have-- that’s when  provisions of the  Affordable Care Act
–aka “Obamacare”--   went into effect. If you’re American, and you’vegot a body, that’s  worth celebrating!

Have you ever put off preventive care because it’s too expensive?  “Obamacare”   says health plans must cover annual wellness exams without a 
co-pay.  Mammograms, colorectal screenings, vaccinations, diabetes screenings,   contraceptive care, flu  shots,  pneumonia shots, hepatitis B shots— these and more  also must be provided 
copay-free.

Folic Acid supplements,anemia screenings, and gestational diabetes testing for expectant Moms now fall under cost-free preventive care, as do  Autism screenings, newborn hearing screenings, and vision screenings for your kids. Children cannot be denied
health coverage due to pre-existing conditions—  in 2014,  this  protection will extend to adults.

Adult  children can now remain on their parents’ policy until age 26, even if they’re  married, or
living on their own. More than 3 million already are benefiting from this provision!

For Seniors , “Obamacare” will strengthen Medicare by ending fraud and abuse, making prescription drugs more affordable, and offering incentives to providers  working to improve  their patients’ care.

Thanks to “Obamacare,” insurance companies must give rebates to their customers if they don’t spend at
least 80 percent of the premium dollars they collect  on individual policies, or 85 percent from group policies, for  actual medical care.  According to estimates,  about 9 million people may be eligible for rebates.

Ready for the icing on the
cake? The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Affordable Care Act  will reduce our deficit.  The CBO also has also estimated
that Republican legislation to repeal this law would increase the deficit by over $100 billion from 2013 to 2022.

The Affordable Care Act is  cost-effective and    health -effective.  That’s good news for every American body!

Dianne Douthat, Wayne