Most of the major provisions in the health care legislation do not take effect for months, if not years.
Even some popular changes that were being touted as “immediate benefits,” such as allowing adult dependent children to remain on their parents’ insurance policies, do not actually take effect for six months, according to a story in the New York Times.
But once President Barack Obama signed the bill into law Tuesday, some provisions took effect instantly.
For example, at the moment the bill becomes law, states will be required to maintain their existing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage based on policies currently in effect.
While states can expand their programs, they are not allowed to cut back on eligibility and are not allowed to put in place any paperwork requirements that would make it harder for people to sign up for coverage, according to Jocelyn A. Guyer, co-executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University.
The Patient Life 