ACA Title 1, Sec. 1251. Preservation of right to maintain existing coverage: “Good” – but somewhat moot. This provision provides a semblance of protection for health plan coverage that existed at the time of the enactment of the Law (March 23, 2010). These health plans are considered “grandfathered health plans”. As long as employers and plan sponsors don’t change any provisions of the plans they are considered as “grandfathered health plans.” However, health plans have ended coverage for a large number of individual health plan holders due to their inconsistency with other requirements of the ACA. Also the eventual implementation of the tax advantage status of health plans offering “Essential Health Benefit Coverage” and the use of uniform rating procedures will likely act to bring about changes to virtually all the “grandfathered health plans.” Therefore the protection implied by this provision is largely moot.

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