A new analysis by Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, reveals on a state-by-state basis the huge number of small businesses, Medicare beneficiaries, children, and young adults that have benefited from the Affordable Care Act in its first year.

The analysis, "States Are Benefiting from Provisions of the Affordable Care Act," looks at five specific groups and lists the number of beneficiaries in each group in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The five categories of beneficiaries are as follows:

- Uninsured Young Adults Who Are Eligible to Stay on Their Parents' Plan. A provision of the Affordable Care Act that was implemented in September 2010 allows young adults to stay on their parents' health plans until they are 26. More than 3.4 million previously uninsured young adults nationwide are eligible for this benefit. State-specific numbers are provided in the Families USA analysis.

- Seniors and People with Disabilities Who Received a Prescription Drug Rebate Check in 2010. Rebate checks of $250 began going out in mid-June 2010 to seniors and people with disabilities who reached the prescription drug "doughnut hole" in Medicare. Nationwide, approximately 3.2 million Medicare beneficiaries received these checks. (Of additional note, people who reach the doughnut hole in 2011 will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs and are eligible for reduced-price generic drugs, and the Affordable Act will ultimately eliminate the doughnut hole in future years.)

- Seniors and People with Disabilities Who Have Access to Free Preventive Health Services. As of January 1, 2011, proven preventive services-such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and flu shots-are provided free of charge to the 46 million Medicare enrollees nationwide. In addition, an annual wellness visit is provided at no cost to those enrolled in Medicare.

- Children with Pre-Existing Conditions Who Are Protected. Another benefit of the Affordable Care Act that became effective in September 2010 prohibits insurance companies from denying health coverage to children who have pre-existing conditions. Nearly 5 million children nationwide-thousands in every state-are diagnosed with a pre-existing condition that could have resulted in a denial of health coverage prior to reform.

- Small Businesses That Are Eligible for a Premium Tax Credit. Beginning in the 2010 tax year, more than 4 million small businesses nationwide (those with fewer than 25 employees and an average wage of less than $50,000) became eligible for tax credits to help cover up to 35 percent of the cost of health care premiums for their employees. Almost 84 percent of U.S. small businesses qualify for this program. The Families USA analysis lists the number of businesses in each state that qualify for this important tax credit.

"As we mark the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, many millions of people already have much to celebrate," Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said today. "Even though the largest health care improvements will be implemented in the future, huge numbers of seniors, young adults, children, and small businesses have already received key pocketbook protections.

"Equally important, the new benefits and rights are already providing peace of mind to America's families: their grandparents can afford needed medicines; their children cannot be denied health coverage due to a pre-existing condition; and young adults can stay on their parents' coverage," Pollack said.

Source:
Families USA