Essential Information About the Affordable Care Act for Psych Rehab Practitioners

The Affordable Care Act will provide one of the largest expansions of mental health and substance use disorder coverage in a generation. Beginning in 2014 under the law, all new small group and individual market plans will be required to cover ten Essential Health Benefit categories, including mental health and substance use disorder services, and will be required to cover them at parity with medical and surgical benefits. More information.

We encourage you to share the following information about the Affordable Care Act in your office, so that your colleagues and your patients know all the details and the options available to those who need mental health healthcare coverage:

Enrollment Started October 1, 2013 Visit HealthCare.gov to Get Ready

HealthCare.gov is your best source of information about the Marketplace. You and your patients can read information that pertains to them, print checklists, and watch videos to help them get ready to apply and enroll.

Explore every qualified health plan in your area, and show patients how to fill out and submit an application when they are ready. They will be able to take control with better information, including details about benefits and prices presented in clear language, so they will know what their premiums, deductibles, and other costs will be before making a choice. Once they have decided on a plan, they do not need to go anywhere else. The Marketplace is open and people can enroll directly for coverage that begins as soon as January 1, 2014.