Rights & Protections

The Affordable Care Act puts you – not insurance companies – back in charge of your health care. The following rights and consumer protections are available through the health care law:

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and Uniform Glossary

Most health insurance plans and issuers must provide you with an easy-to-understand summary about a health plan’s benefits and coverage.

Consumer Assistance Program

State Consumer Assistance Programs help you file complaints and appeals, enroll in health coverage, and learn about your rights and responsibilities as a health care consumer. 

Appealing Health Plan Decisions

You have the right to ask your plan to reconsider a denial of payment for services.

Preventive Care

You may be eligible to receive recommended preventive health services at no cost.

Patient’s Bill of Rights

The “Patient’s Bill of Rights” outlines consumer protections and gives you the knowledge you need to make informed choices about your health.

Children’s Pre-Existing Conditions

Insurance companies can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under age 19 due to a pre-existing health condition.

Doctor Choice & ER Access

You have the right to choose the doctor you want from your plan’s network or seek emergency care at a hospital outside of your health plan’s network.

Grandfathered Health Plans

You have the right to keep your “grandfathered” health plan if you were covered before the health care law was enacted. Grandfathered plans do not have to provide some of the rights and protections under the Affordable Care Act.

Curbing Insurance Cancellations

Insurance companies can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake on your application.

If you have insurance and you have questions about your rights, services covered, or costs and payments, visit the Managing Your Insurance page to learn more.