Close Timeline

2010
- New Coverage Options
  Close
  - The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) begins offering temporary insurance coverage to people who have been denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition and have been without insurance for at least 6 months.
  - Young adults up to age 26 can remain on their family's health insurance plan.
- Preventive Benefits
  Close
  - Individuals with new group or individual private insurance plans do not have to pay deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for certain preventive care services.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Individuals with new group or individual private insurance plans do not have to pay deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for certain preventive care services.
- Consumer Protections
  Close
  - Children under age 19 can't be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
  - Young adults up to age 26 can remain on their family's health insurance plan.
  - Insurance companies can't drop your coverage if you become sick.
  - Insurance companies can't place lifetime limits on health coverage. They are also restricted from using arbitrary annual limits on your health coverage.
- Help for Families
  Close
  - Children under age 19 can't be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
  - Young adults up to age 26 can remain on their family's health insurance plan.
2011
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
  - Medicare benefits expand to include free coverage for wellness and preventive care.
- Quality
  Close
  - It becomes easier to file complaints about the quality of care in a nursing home. Better access to information on nursing home quality and resident rights is available.
  - Insurance companies are required to spend more of the premium dollars they receive on health care services and quality.
- Preventive Benefits
  Close
  - Medicare benefits expand to include free coverage for wellness and preventive care.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
  - Medicare benefits expand to include free coverage for wellness and preventive care.
2012
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 14 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Quality
  Close
  - Hospitals that improve the quality of care for people with Medicare can qualify for new payments.
  - Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care will receive bonus payments.
2013
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 52.5 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 21 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Help for Families
  Close
  - Increased funding to help families and children get coverage through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance program (CHIP).
- Quality
  Close
  - Hospitals and doctors can qualify to receive a new type of payment (called a "bundle") to coordinate with each other as they care for patients.
2014
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 52.5 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 28 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- New Coverage Options
  Close
  - Exchanges begin offering health insurance coverage with comprehensive benefits.
  - Subsidies are available for those with limited incomes who purchase health insurance through an exchange.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - More people who have a limited income are able to get Medicaid.
- Help for Families
  Close
  - More families who have a limited income are able to get Medicaid.
- Consumer Protections
  Close
  - Insurance companies are banned from putting annual limits on health coverage.
  - Insurance companies can't deny anyone health coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
  - Spouses of people on Medicaid who receive care services at home get the same protections for income and other resources as spouses of those on Medicaid who live in nursing homes.
2015
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 55 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 35 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 55 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 35 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Quality
  Close
  - Doctors who provide higher quality care will receive higher payments under a new program.
- Help for Families
  Close
  - States will begin to pay a lower share of costs for the CHIP program beginning Oct. 1, 2015.
2016
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 55 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 42 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 55 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 42 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
2017
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 60 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 49 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 60 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 49 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
2018
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 65 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 54 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 65 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 54 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
2019
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 70 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 63 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
- Lower Costs
  Close
  - Those who reach the Medicare doughnut hole receive a 70 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 63 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
2020
- Medicare Improvements
  Close
  - Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole" is completely closed.