ACA Facts: Patient Protections

March 20, 2013

Patient Protections
The ACA guarantees that individuals will be able to choose their primary care doctor or pediatrician from the health plan's provider network.  It ensures that consumers can see an obstetrician or gynecologist without needing referral from another doctor.  Finally, the ACA ensures that consumers can seek emergency care at a hospital outside the plan's network without prior approval.  The ACA ensures that plans cannot charge higher copayments or co-insurance for out-of-network emergency room services.  These rules are intended to ensure that individuals have more control over their care and are not penalized if they get sick or injured while away from home.