by Andrew Sprung
In case you were wondering...
From H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:
Section 1302b (p. 105) (4) --In defining the essential health benefits under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(D) ensure that health benefits established as essential not be subject to denial to individuals against their wishes on the basis of the individuals' age or expected length of life or of the individuals' present or predicted disability, degree of medical dependency, or quality of life
That's for the plans in the exchanges. As for the Independent Medicare Advisory Board, charged with submitting proposals to reduce the Medicare per capita growth rate when that rate is projected to pass certain benchmarks:
Section 3403, amending Section 1899A (p. 1004) -- (ii) The proposal shall not include any recommendation to ration health care, raise revenues or Medicare beneficiary premiums...increase Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing (including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments), or otherwise restrict benefits or modify eligibility standards.