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Maine.gov > PFR Home > Insurance Regulation > Federal Health Care Reform

Federal Health Care Reform

Additional Help Under Health Care Reform
Beginning Sept. 23, 2010

Under the Federal Affordable Care Act there are several important protections for consumers as of Sept. 23, 2010. 

These new provisions apply differently to different types of plans.  
If you have health insurance coverage through an employer, these new benefits and protections will be added to your policy at the next policy renewal after Sept. 23.

If you purchased an individual health insurance policy on your own, the effective date is a bit more complicated. If your insurer has specified a "policy year" for your coverage, the new provisions will become effective on that date. Otherwise, the new benefits and protections will be added on the date when annual deductibles and annual limits reset each year. If your policy does not have an annual deductible or annual limit, these changes will become effective on Jan. 1, 2011. If you have questions about when these provisions will become effective for your policy, contact your insurance company. 

Asterisks (**) below indicate a note on the plans that are affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information for Small Businesses

Some portions of the new law are still being defined.  These fact sheets will be updated as new regulations are provided by the federal government.

Information about federal care health reform will be updated on a regular basis.

Regulations and Guidance from HHS are available at:

Regulations and Guidance relating to grandfathered health plans under the Affordable Care Act:

More health reform resources and information available at:

Last Updated: February 11, 2013