There are about 335,000 uninsured residents in Kansas, forming about 12% of the entire population. After the federal reforms are implemented completely, 200,000 of these residents will have access to health plans. The total spending on health care will increase by 1.1% or $150 million. According to some reports, Medicaid and CHIP, which are designed more of a safety net program, will turn to be a major source of coverage for the residents of Kansas.
The other changes that the residents of Kansas will witness on their health plans are the following:
1. Unmarried children can now stay in their parents’ health plan till they turn 26. This will benefit 16,800 young adults in the state who can now look for a job or study without having to worry about medical coverage.
2. Children with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage based on their health status.
3. This will be extended to the adults as well in 2014. Until then, they can purchase affordable health plans through a high risk pool program which has a federal funding of $36.5 millions
4. For the 1.7 million residents of Kansas who already have health plans, there is no reason to worry about their coverage running out as insurance companies will no longer be able to place lifetime limits on the coverage
5. The Act will also protect 183,000 individuals who brought their medical policy from dishonest insurance practices, from getting dropped from coverage when they fall sick
6. For those looking to purchase individual health plan, residents in Kansas will not have to pay anything extra to avail fitness and wellness benefits.
7. The use of annual limit will be regulated to ensure access to needed care. This will benefit about 1.5 million residents of Kansas.
8. Residents can retain a health plan if they like it and have the freedom to pick any participating primary care provider in their health plans.
9. Kansas residents will also no longer be required to have prior authorization in cases of emergency and if women want to consult an ob-gyn.
10. No charges for preventive healthcare facilities such as flu vaccines
Not just individuals and individual health plans, the reforms will bring in changes in the community healthcare facilities as well so as to make healthcare facilities and health care plans more accessible to the residents of Kansas.
- Increased funding in store for the Community Health Centers: this will not only on help bring in more patients to the Center, but also help in building more centers too.
- The National Health Service Corps will receive a federal funding of $1.5 billion over a five years. This funding will help about 12% of the Kansas residents who live in underserved areas.
- The criteria for the eligibility for Medicaid will be expanded so as to encompass more adults and children in the low-income population.
