Strategic Planning & Timelines

This infographic demonstrates the estimated impact that the ACA will have on the number of self-employed Americans.

This implementation timeline is an interactive tool designed to explain how and when the provisions of the health reform law will be implemented over the next several years.

The major insurance coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act go into effect in January 2014, providing new insurance options for people without health insurance and insurance market protections for consumers. The Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey of 2012 finds that the reform law has significantly increased health insurance coverage of young adults, and the findings also underscore why it is critical that implementation continue on schedule.

Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) offered on state and federal exchanges must include a sufficient number of Essential Community Providers (ECPs) – such as community health centers, Ryan White providers, and others – in their networks, but these providers may not know how to identify or connect to QHPs. This fact sheet reviews ECP guidance and upcoming deadlines, and provides tips to help connect safety net providers and health plans.

In May 2011, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed legislation to implement Green Mountain Care (GMC), a single-payer, publicly financed, universal health care system. Vermont's reform law passed 15 months after the historic federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. In passing reforms, Vermont took matters into its own hands and is well ahead of most other states in its efforts to implement federal and state health care reforms by 2014. Although Vermont is a small state, its reform efforts provide valuable lessons for other states in implementing ACA reforms.