Obamacare: doctor’s office visits are covered

Does Obamacare pay for doctor’s office visits?

 Two years away from Medicare

Dear Two years away from Medicare,

Yes, sort of.  Obamacare is the slang name for the whole health reform law and its implications.  So, technically, the answer is no, Obamacare does not directly pay for physician visits.  The law itself does require that private health insurance plans pay for “Essential Health Benefits” which includes ambulatory patient services (a technical term for services that do not entail an overnight stay in a hospital bed, and which include physician services.)

Private health insurance plans are still the centerpiece of our health funding system. Unless and until you have Medicare or Medicaid, it won’t be the government paying for our medical services; it’s the insurer that we pay each month.

Linda Riddell

About Linda Riddell

A published author and health policy analyst with 25 years’ experience, Linda Riddell's goal is to alleviate the widespread ailment of not knowing what your health plan can do for you.