Are you ready for September 23rd?

September 23rd marks the six-month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law- and for the 81 million Americans living with heart disease or stroke, and the millions more at risk, it is definitely a date to take note of. That's because a number of new health care protections, which will help improve patients' access to affordable care, will take effect that day.

Do you know what this means for you?

If not, you're not alone. That's why the American Heart Association is here as a resource for patients and their families. As an informed consumer, it is critical for you to understand what's changing and what options are available to you in order to access and afford the quality care you need and deserve.

By visiting our website, www.heartsforhealthcare.org, you will find:

1. Information about the patients protections taking effect this week, such as:

- Eliminating lifetime caps on coverage and restricting annual limits

- Prohibiting coverage denials to children based on pre-existing conditions

- Allowing young adults (under age 26) to remain covered under their parent's plan

- Providing preventative services for free under new health plans (and in Medicare starting January 1)

- Prohibiting insurance companies from rescinding coverage if you get sick

2. A series of short videos featuring AHA experts who answer your fellow volunteers' questions about the health care law and the new protections mentioned above.

3. Links to other resources to provide you with additional information and tools to learn about the protections and options available to you.

The American Heart Association has long recognized that ensuring patients have access to the care they need is critical to our mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. We hope you will seek out the information you need to learn about how the new law will affect you, so you can take full advantage of these new consumer provisions and patient protections.