Families with Children and the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act gives you more control over your family's health care. When key parts of the health care law take effect in 2014, there’ll be a new way to get health insurance: the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace is designed to help you find health insurance that fits your budget, with less hassle. Find out how you can get a break on costs.

Top 5 Things to Know for Families

• Teens and Young Adults Can Stay on Your Plan: If your children are under age 26, you can generally insure them if your policy allows for dependent coverage.
• Coverage for Children's Pre-Existing Conditions: Job-based health plans and new individual plans are no longer allowed to deny or exclude coverage for your kids (under age 19) based on a pre-existing condition, including a disability.
• No More Lifetime Limits on Your Care: Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits. And annual dollar limits will be phased out in 2014.
• Preventive Care Is Covered: Many insurers are now required to cover preventive services at no cost to you. This includes new preventive benefits for mothers and vaccinations for kids.
• Insurance Companies Are Held Accountable:Your premium dollars must be spent primarily on health care, not advertising or bonuses for executives. And insurance companies must now publicly justify any unreasonable rate hikes.

8 Resources for Families

Use these resources to find coverage and get the most out of your insurance:

1. Learn about the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid.
2. Apply for coverage with the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
3. Find free or low-cost care at a community health center near you.
4. See how the law benefits pregnant women.
5. Get help using insurance through the Consumer Assistance Program.
6. Learn about insurance rebates and rate increases.
7. Understand your health plan and learn how to make it work for you.
8. See how the law makes your family's health care more secure.

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