The good news for patients is that starting in 2014 the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires individual and group health plans to issue policies to all applicants, regardless of health status. Through the ACA’s individual mandate, insurance exchanges, and Medicaid expansion, guaranteed issue will provide new coverage for millions of citizens. Having insurance, however, does not always guarantee access to primary care.
Lost in the political rhetoric around health reform and technical glitches in the HealthCare.gov website are a set of critical decisions that many physician practices will have to make in the coming years. These decisions may very well contribute to the ultimate success or failure of the ACA.