In March, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. In this ongoing series, we’ll discuss the new law and try to help you make sense of it. How are people with disabilities affected by the legislation? Here are some changes we’ll see:

- More people with disabilities will qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program that presently covers many people of low-income, the elderly, and the disabled. Beginning in 2014, it will become easier to receive Medicaid coverage; almost every adult with an annual income of less than $15,000 will be eligible. New services will also be offered by Medicaid programs to help people who need long-term home care.

- A new plan will become available to disabled persons in 2012 called the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. The CLASS program will be an insurance option that offers a cash allowance for assistance with daily activities. This sort of care can help people with disabilities maintain their independence.

- A number of the new changes which affect everybody may have special implications for people with disabilities. For instance, insurance companies won’t be allowed to drop you just because you made a mistake on your application, or to enforce lifetime limits on your care. And by 2014 it will be illegal for insurance providers to deny you coverage or charge you more because of your disability. (See our previous writing on these changes.)

At ZocDoc, we know the health care system can be tough to navigate. We’re proud to do our part to make it easier. Find a doctor or dentist based on your insurance plan. And check the government’s website to read more about how these changes affect people with disabilities.