Perhaps the biggest change under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is often referred to as Health Reform 2010 (the Act) is a requirement that most U.S. citizens and legal immigrants have health insurance starting in 2014. To help make the insurance affordable:

• The Act creates state-run Exchanges throughout the country through which health insurance can be purchased. (There will also be a separate Exchange for small businesses.) All plans offered through the Exchanges will have to have minimum benefits, including preventive services.
• Starting in 2016, Insurers will be permitted to offer health plans across state lines for states that agree to participate.

When the Exchanges start, the following will encourage people to get coverage:

• There will be penalties for not having health insurance.
• There will also be premium and cost-sharing credits for people who cannot afford the premiums.

Medicaid will be expanded to include people solely based on income.

The Act also:

• Encourages wellness. For instance, health plans will have to include coverage for preventive tests, employers are encouraged to add wellness benefits and chain restaurants and food sold from vending machines will be required to disclose the nutritional content of each item.
• Contains provisions for improving, or for studying how to improve, the quality of health care and the health care system that do not directly affect consumers.
• Encourages employers to offer health insurance to employees.
• Requires coverage for medical services related to clinical trials, and provides that health plans cannot discriminate against participants in clinical trials.

In part, the Act’s benefits will be paid for by increasing Medicare taxes on taxpayers who make more than $200,000 individually or $250,000 as a couple (including unearned income).

Health Reform 2010 does not affect COBRA.

To find out how health care reform will affect you based on your insurance status, click on the appropriate button.

NOTE: Since the law is new and subject to regulations and interpretation, the following is stated in general terms. We will revise this document as matters are clarified.

If you have health insurance
  If you do not have health
insurance (uninsured)

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