What The Supreme Court Ruling Means For Medicare
July 9, 2012 On June 28th, the Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) does not violate the US Constitution. Since then, we've been asked numerous times, "What does this mean for people on Medicare?" Well, the answer is - surprisingly little.
When the act was passed in 2010, most of the changes that effected Medicare went into effect immediately. The major components were:
- Many of the copays for preventative care were eliminated,
- A annual wellness visit was added, and
- The phasing out of the prescription drug "Donut Hole" began (this should be completed by 2020).
Because the Supreme Court only upheld the law, as opposed to changing it, the result was that these changes remained in place. The bulk of what the PPACA addressed was related to insurance for those not yet on Medicare.
Under PPACA individuals not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or employer insurance will be required to purchase health care insurance or face a hefty "tax". Additionally, many employers will now be required to offer health insurance to their employees. There are exceptions, of course, to these two general statements, but they are the main thrust of the law.