The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will make health insurance coverage available to millions of people in the U.S. Beginning in October 2013, people will be able to sign up for coverage that starts in January 2014. Health care providers should take steps now to help their patients understand this complex law.
There are numerous authoritative resources available for patients. A good place to direct patients is to the MedlinePlus Health Insurance Web page. MedlinePlus, produced by the National Library of Medicine, provides timely health information from government agencies, and is written for the public.
Affordable Care Act resources of immediate interest on MedlinePlus Health Insurance include:
- HealthCare.gov, Department of Health and Human Services
- Key Features of the Affordable Care Act, Department of Health and Human Services
- Facts and Features, Department of Health and Human Services
- Health Coverage for You and Your Family, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- What Marketplace Will Serve Me? Get State Information, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Health Reform Implementation Timeline, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
For more information about resources that help explain the Affordable Care Act, contact the HSLS Main Desk at 412-648-8866 or Ask a Librarian.
~ Jill Foust