WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A number of important changes to health insurance rules in last year's healthcare overhaul take effect in 2011, U.S. officials said.
Among the provisions that went into effect Saturday is one to limit how much of their customers' money health insurance companies can hold for overhead and profit, The Washington Post reported.
The new provisions aren't affected by a federal court ruling in Virginia that declared one provision of the new healthcare law unconstitutional. That court said the government cannot require all Americans to buy health insurance. Other federal courts have upheld the requirement.
Among the new rules:
-- A provision limiting what health insurers can do with premium money.
-- A provision providing prescription for drug discounts for seniors in Medicare insurance.
-- The creation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
-- A rule providing for free screening for cancer and other diseases for senior citizens.
