ObamaCare Summary: A Summary of Obama's Health Care Reform

A Quick Overview of ObamaCare and How it Works

The following ObamaCare Summary is a quick overview of Obama's health care reform. The purpose of a our Obama Health Care summary is to quickly understand what ObamaCare is and what costs are associated with it. If you would like a more detailed overview of the law read out our  Affordable Care Act Summary .

Obama Health Care Summary

Obama's Health Care Bill aims to reform the American Health Care System and provide affordable quality health careto all Americans. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was signed into law March 23rd, 2010 and upheld by a supreme court ruling on June 28, 2012. The bill includes unprecedented preventative care and protections including insurance companies no longer being able to deny individuals for preexisting conditions or to drop them from coverage when they get sick.

A Summary of How ObamaCare and Insurance

ObamaCare's health care plan reforms the way we buy health insurance requiring that all Americans, purchase a private health care plan or pay a 1% - 2.5% tax (it's a tax, not a mandate). Americans who cannot afford health insurance will either qualify for Medicare / Medicaid or get assistance in the form of tax credits, tax breaks or assistance with up-front costs on the Health Insurance Exchanges (HIX).

A Summary of Health Insurance Exchanges

The new health care law makes Health insurance available to most uninsured low and middle income individuals on the "ObamaCare Exchanges". Theexchanges are state or federally run online marketplaces where customers can shop for affordable quality health insurance. Small businesses can also use the exchange to purchase insurance for their employees. The Health Insurance Exchanges will open in Oct of 2013, coverage starts Jan 1st, 2014.

Did you know that Obamacare healthcare reform includes the biggest middle tax class cut for healthcare in America's history! ObamaCare actually saves families and small businesses billions of dollars by providing reduced costs and reduced premiums to millions of Americans.

(ObamaCare Summary Image is public domain)

Obama Care Coverage Summary

Regardless of what you pay, ObamaCare greatly improves the health care industry. 30 million Americans who currently do not have health insurance will be covered under new health care law. Other coverage milestones include better preventative care, women's health services, better care for seniors and expanded coverage of our nations poorest.

Learn more about the Benefits of ObamaCare

Medicaid and Medicare Reform Summary

ObamaCare also expands Medicaid in order to provide health coverage to 17 million uninsured Americans who are falling in between the cracks of being able to afford insurance and qualifying for Medicaid. Obama's health care planoverhaul's Medicare as well adding new benefits, expanding coverage, fighting fraud, cutting costs, and improving care for patients.

Want more than a Summary of Obamacare, get the full text and learn more about the Obamacare Bill.

ObamaCare Cost Summary

The ObamaCare cost will be around $1.1 trillion over the next ten year according to an updated CBO report. This number may seem big but the end result is actually a reduction of our national deficit by $143 billion dollars!

Summarizing the cost of ObamaCare for individuals is tricker, those who make over 400% of the poverty line may pay about what they do now, while those under will most likely pay less, due to financial assistance. Learn more about ObamaCare's Cost

A Summary of How ObamaCare is Paid For

In summary, Obamacare will be paid for through budget cuts, taxes and government funding. This includes a .9% Medicare tax and unearned income tax (on income over $200/$250k), cuts to wasteful spending, a tax on insurance companies and a tax on employers with over 50 full-time employees who do not supply their employees with affordable quality health care. This is just a summary of how ObamaCare is paid for. Learn More about ObamaCare Taxes

It's important to note that the taxes work on a sliding scale, so the more you make the more you pay. Nearly 99% of families and 97% of small businesses will benefit from ObamaCare. While over 70% will save money and have better coverage by being able to purchase their healthcare through a competitive insurance exchange or qualify for Government program.

A Summary of ObamaCare, Business and Jobs

ObamaCare helps small businesses under 25 full-time employees insure employees, if they choose, through tax credits, while employers with over 50 full-time employees will have to pay a percentage of their employees health care or a penalty. Some people say this will hinder job growth and hiring, but the only studies done so far have shown the opposite, in fact most studies show that ObamaCare will create millions of new jobs in both the private and public sector. Find out more about ObamaCare and Small Business

Health Care Reform Summary

ObamaCare reforms everything from practices of insurance companies to ensuring better quality health care for allAmericans. A summary of all the reforms within ObamaCare is a available here at our Health Care Reform Timeline

We have only touched upon some of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act in this Obamacare summary. The Bill itself is a cumulation of many different reforms that improve our healthcare system and provide affordable health insurance to all Americans. Read more about the specifics of Obamacare or read a more detailed overview of what the ObamaCare has to offer in our Affordable Care Act Summary

ObamaCare Facts: Facts on the Obama Health Care Plan

ObamaCare Facts 2013 - We Tell you the Facts, Not The Talking Points

We present the Facts on Obama Care (ObamaCare) / The Health Care for America plan. Our goal is to help you understand the basics of the ObamaCare health care plan and bill, so you can decide for yourself what you think of ObamaCare, based on the facts and not the News Radio / TV opinions.

(ObamaCare Facts Image Public Domain, Photo by Chuck Kennedy; U.S. Government Work)

• ObamaCare, Obama Care and Health Care for America are all the same thing. The official name for "ObamaCare" is the Patient Protection and theAffordable Care Act, a bill signed into law to reform the health care industry.

• Some aspects of Obamacare health care reform are already enacted. The Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act was signed in 2010, and over 100 million Americans have already benefited from the new health care law.

• ObamaCare requires that insurance plans cover preventative services and stops insurance companies from dropping you when you are sick, as well as offering a number of other reforms and protections.

After you get done reading the ObamaCare facts check out the full, in detail, summary of Obama Care to get the facts on how Obama's health care reform will really work: The Affordable Care Act Summary

• ObamaCare is a hot button political issue and both sides of the isle will try to persuade you for or against it. Get THE FACTS on ObamaCare and the Plan for Health Care in America.

• ObamaCare's goal is to provide affordable health insurance for all US citizens and to reduce the growth in health care spending.

• ObamaCare does not replace private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

• The Fact is ObamaCare gives 47 million women access to preventative health services and makes it illegal to charge women different rates than men. Get More ObamaCare Women's Health Services Facts

• ObamaCare gives seniors access to cheaper drugs, free preventive care, Reforms Medicare Advantage, and closes the Medicare Part D 'donut hole. The AARP agrees, costs won't rise because of ObamaCare, if anything the improvements to the system will make seniors health care costs go down.

• 1 in 2 Americans have a "pre-existing" condition they could be denied health insurance for. ObamaCare Chips Away at Pre-Existing Conditions until 2017 when there are no more preexisting conditions for anyone, including high-risk customers.

• 54 million Americans with private health insurance now have access to preventive services with no cost sharing due to the new minium standards of ObamaCare.

• ObamaCare doesn't ration health care, it protects consumers from the health care rationing insurance companies have been doing for ages.

• ObamaCare reduces the growth in healthcare spending. The $2.8 trillion U.S. healthcare system costs almost $9k a year for every man, woman and child.

• Did your health insurance premium go up? The Fact is ObamaCare enacts a number of consumer protections including a rate review provision where insurance companies will have to justify rate hikes above 10% to your State and post details online immediately. Yet many Americans are still their premiums rise at alarming rates. Learn More About ObamaCare Insurance Premiums

• Other insurance reforms to curb the cost of premiums are already in action include a Medical Loss Ratio policy and other accountability measures. Many more protections go into effect in 2014, so far the average insurance premium has gone down and Americans saved $2.1 billion in 2012 alone.

• ObamaCare means 21 new taxes, get the facts on how they will affect you, your family and your business.ObamaCare Taxes Facts

• We've created a detailed ObamaCare Facts timeline of every protection, benefit and tax laid out by the Affordable Care Act Bill from 2010 to 2022. Health Care Reform Timeline

• ObamaCare's insurance reform helps to insure millions of Americans each year. 48.6 million Americans went without insurance during all of 2011, compared to 49.9 million in 2010. The rate of uninsured decreased from 16.3% to 15.7%, the biggest percentage drop since 1999 due to the Affordable Care Act.

• ObamaCare takes measures to prevent all types of discrimination in regards to your right to health care, including discrimination based on gender, income and health issues.

• All Americans have the option to stay on their current healthcare plans. No one including seniors will be forced not to have healthcare. That's an ObamaCare fact.

• ObamaCare reforms and expands Medicaid to an estimated 15 million of our nations poorest. That's 6.1 million less than the last estimate due to States opting-out out of providing coverage, despite 100% federal funding for the first 3 years and 90% thereafter. ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion

• States will have to spend millions on Medicaid over the next ten years regardless of whether they implement Medicaid Expansion. However, states that do implement ObamaCare's Medicaid Expansion will reap billions in additional federal dollars.

• Obamacare mandates that Medicaid payments be raised to the same level Medicare pays doctors. While it varies from state to state, primary care physicians will see an average 73% pay increase. This will make it easier for new Medicaid recipients to find doctors willing to take Medicaid.

• 25 States have opted out of setting up a State Run Health Insurance Exchange. This leaves the federal tax payer responsible for providing care for their constituents. 19 are running a State Exchange, 7 set up joint exchanges. Find out more about ObamaCare's State Run Exchanges

• ObamaCare provides $20 billion in tax credits for as many as 4 million Small Businesses to offset the cost of purchasing insurance on the Health Insurance Exchanges.

• Only the top 3% of small businesses will have to pay the additional 0.9% ObamaCare Medicare tax increase.

• Only .2% of businesses have over 50 employees and don't already offer insurance to full-time workers. Providing these folks with insurance is the only "employer mandate" in ObamaCare.

• Over half uninsured Americans are small business owners, employees or their dependents. Learn the Truth Behind the ObamaCare Small Business Taxes, How They Affect America's Biggest Job Creators.

• Want single payer? Come 2017 states will be able to get a waiver to set up their own approved health care solution, as long as it meets the standards of ObamaCare.

• Starting OCT 2013 insurance companies will compete to be your healthcare provider via a health insurance exchange pool, this helps to decrease insurance premiums for all Americans.

• The CBO Estimates 19 million Americans (of the 23 million estimated to use the exchange) will Receive Tax Credits to Purchase Insurance on the Exchanges.

• Due to Tax credits and up-front assistance Americans making under 400% of the FLP (roughly $88k for a family of 4) could see up to a 60% reduction in the cost of health insurance premiums.

• Employers can use SHOP, a part of the exchange, to purchase affordable coverage for their workers.

• Uninsured Americans cost the American healthcare system an additional $49 billion. Only 12% of uninsured families pay their hospital bills in full, this includes families making over $88k a year. These costs affect insurance premiums, ObamaCare helps to reduce this spending drastically.

• Annual limits for insurance premiums can be no more than 11% or less than 1.5% of your modified adjusted gross income, when insurance goes on sale via the health insurance exchanges in 2014.

• Members of Congress will purchase their health care through the health exchange like the rest of us (who chose not to opt out and pay a tax, are covered by Medicaid or choose to stay on their existing insurance) Get more facts about the ObamaCare Insurance Exchange

• In 2011 ObamaCare helped around 86 million Americans use free preventative services that had previously been subject to co-pays or deductibles.

• ObamaCare aims to improve community health care centers in an effort improve health care for those who cannot afford private health care.

• Obamacare doesn't increase the deficit, it is projected to cut the deficit by over Trillion dollars over the next two decades.

• ObamaCare offers countless benefits and protections that have been rolling out since 2010 and continue into 2022. Find out more about the Benefits of ObamaCare

• In 2013 American Employers with more than 25 or less employees may receive tax breaks of up to 35% (25% non-profits) of the cost of their employees insurance premiums. In 2014 in increases to 50% (35%).

• Employers with more than 50 employees must insure their workers or pay a tax (like the current state run unemployment and workers compensation programs)

• ObamaCare won't cause 650,000 Jobs to be lost as some of it's detractors say (the number isn't even in the CBO report on The Affordable Care Act). The often misrepresented quote stated that the only job loss ObamaCare may actually cause are from those who cut back their hours, since they will no longer have to rely on their jobs for their families health care. In fact most reports show that ObamaCare will create new jobs.

• ObamaCare doesn't regulate health care, it regulates health insurance. What is ObamaCare?

• If an you or your family chooses not to purchase healthcare through the Online Health Insurance Exchange, they can still buy private insurance, get insurance through work or Medicare / Medicaid. Those who chose to not participate will pay an income "penalty" tax to help cover the rest of us. In other words it's a tax, not a mandate, no one is actually forcing you to have health insurance.

• Obamacare cuts $716 billion of waste from Medicare and reimbursements to private Medicare Advantage plans and reinvests it into Obama's health care reform. In other words $716 billion is saved and then $716 billion is reinvested back into Obamacare and Medicare. Doctors and hospitals almost universally agree on this reform.

• 19 million Americans will receive tax credits to help pay for healthcare and most middle class Americans will actually save thousands on healthcare via tax cuts (this has been going on for the past 3 years already)

• The Affordable Care Act (ACA or ObamaCare) reduces costs of premiums to millions of families and small businesses and provides billions dollars in tax relief – the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history.

• The healthcare industry, specifically doctors will be rewarded for quality over quantity.

• The Affordable Care Act allows Religious institutions to choose to be exempt from providing controversial contraception and reproductive health services to women. Multiple businesses have also received an exemption after taking the ruling to court.

• The Affordable Health Care Act doesn't just focus on insurance, it also reforms the parts of the healthcare system that aren't working or are costing the tax payer money. For example, by focusing on preventive measures instead of just treatment ObamaCare will save tens of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives.

• The ObamaCare fact is the average American will save money under Obamacare. In fact many Americans are already paying less for health care services.

• Obamacare cuts the national deficit by over two hundred billion dollars during it's first 10 years.

• ObamaCare aims to make it easier for small businesses to provide coverage to workers by offering Tax Credits to employers who enroll their workers in private healthcare plans.

• One of the main goals of ObamaCare is to ensure that all preventative care will be free on all insurance plans. Private insurance plans that are grandfathered in and are all ready in place will be exempt until they lose their grandfathered status.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: The "ObamaCare" Bill is currently signed into law. There are many people who would like to see ObamaCare repealed. If Obamacare is repealed millions of Americans will be without proper health coverage and insurance companies will continue to be able to deny healthcare for preexisting conditions. Without healthcare reform America will continue suffer the consequences of a health care system controlled by private companies, who's bottom line is money and not health. Help ObamaCare Facts to spread the truth about President Obama's health care reform.

Health Care Reform Timeline

A Timeline of Health Care Reforms 2010 - 2022

Here is an easy to understand Health Care Reform Timeline 2010 - 2022. The healthcare reform timeline lays out health insurance reforms and health care milestones contained within the Affordable Care Act. Find out how the new health care law affects healthcare in the United States and you year to year in our timeline.

What is Health Care Reform?

Obama's Health Care Reform, commonly called ObamaCare but officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Health Care for America Act, PPACA, or ACA for short) is a law that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The bill is meant to "provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes".

Obamacare's reform of the health care system has been an ongoing effort to reform the national health care system. Although it has taken great strides under President Barack Obama, efforts to reform healthcare have been in motion for decades.

Why Does the Health

Insurance Industry Need ObamaCare's Reforms?

Why reform the healthcare system? Before we get to the health care reform time line, here are some reasons ObamaCare health care reform was signed into law.

• PBS reports that 44 million Americans are currently without health insurance. Part of this is due to the extraordinary costs of quality health insurance in the US. HealthCare reform ensures these Americans have access to health care.

• The Medicaid part D prescription drug "doughnut hole" coverage gap was leaving seniors unable to afford their medication or paying out of pocket.

• Government funding for private Medicare Advantage plans is costing the taxpayer money, it was supposed to save the taxpayer money by going on the private market. Obama's Health Care Reform reigns in the wasteful spending.

• Insurance companies could deny you for preexisting conditions or drop you when you get sick.

• Insurance companies could drop you for being sick

• Insurance companies had no limits on raising your premiums.

• Insurance companies could stop treating you when you exceed your annual limit.

• Millions of people are too poor to afford insurance, but make too much to qualify for Medicaid

• Preventative measures and wellness visits were not covered adequately, reforming this will save millions of lives and uncountable health care costs.

The Complete Timeline of Obama's Health Care Reform 2010 - 2022

Many of the protections, reforms and taxes are already enacted, some of the biggest changes roll out in 2014. Our timeline of health care reform breaks down what has already happened and what will happen each year until ObamaCare is fully implemented.

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2010-2012

First let's start with the facts on what ObamaCare has done to reform the healthcare industry so far:

• ObamaCare allows the FDA to approve more generic drugs in order to drive competition up and prices down.

• ObamaCare increases rebates on drugs through Medicare for Seniors.

• ObamaCare closes the Part D Medicare Coverage Gap or "Donut Hole" that was forcing Seniors to pay out of pocket for drug costs. There is also a 50% discount on brand name drugs. Seniors currently get a rebate to cover the costs, ObamaCare closes the Medicare coverage gap for good in 2020.

• The PCORI, an independent non-profit advisory board, studies different types of treatments in order to ensure quality affordable health care under ObamaCare.

• Chain restaurants must now display calories in order to promote wellness and healthy living (this helps to keep the cost of health care down, since less people will need it).

• Health Insurance companies can't drop your coverage when your sick.

• Individuals can't be denied coverage for preexisting conditions.

• Children under the age of 19 can't be classified as having a preexisting conditions

• Children under the age of 26 can stay on their parents insurance

• Income exclusion for Indian Tribe health benefits that were provided after March 23rd, 2010

• Medicare cuts to hospitals and other health care facilities, these cuts are reforms, the money is reinvested back into Medicare

• “Comparative Effectiveness Research,” or CER studies the effectiveness of drugs by comparing drug to drug and seeing which one works best. They will continue to research and publish studies until 2019.

• ObamaCare establishes a “Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute” (PCORI) — a public-private entity that oversees ObamaCare's funding, goals, and outside partnerships.

• ObamaCare creates a high-risk pool for individuals with preexisting conditions. These individuals can still get treatment, but at higher rates. The high-risk pool disappears come 2017, at which point high-risk individuals will buy the same insurance as everyone else.

• Insurance companies can no longer discriminate for disabilities or domestic abuse

• The law imposes a 10% tax on tanning booths. The concept is to tax and regulate products and services that are likely to cause people to need to use their health coverage, to offset what it costs to treat these individuals.

• Rate Hike Review is implemented. Insurers can no longer increase your premiums for profit (also known as "price gouging"). They must justify rate hikes over 10% to the state and then display them on their website (and .gov website) the same day. As of Sept 2012 this measure saved Americans $1 billion. However not all States are using this rule, causing large Premium increases in their respective States.

• The 80/20 rule is implemented. Insurance companies now have to tell their customers how their money is being spent. If they don't spend at least 80% of the money on health care they have to give customers a rebate for the difference. The 80/20 rule has saved Americans $1.1 billion dollars via rebates.

• Health Insurance companies can no longer turn down a claim without an appeal process. This allows customers to have legal standing to fight the appeal.

• Anti-fraud funding is increased and new ways to stop fraud are created.

• Increases rebates for brand name pharmaceuticals purchased through Medicaid.

• New Annual taxes on pharmaceutical companies

• ObamaCare payment increases to physicians, mostly in rural areas.

• Some Small Employers are eligible for tax credits to help with health care related costs

• ObamaCare improves treatment for patents with chronic illnesses.

• The law prohibits non-group plans from canceling coverage.

• A limit is placed on what type of insurance accounts can be used to pay for over-the-counter drugs without a prescription. This does not include insulin, asthma medication or other vital drugs.

• Employers must list employee benefits on their tax form. This helps to determine whether the company will get tax breaks or credits for insuring employees.

• Hospitals in "Frontier States" (ND, MT, WY, SD, UT ) receive higher Medicare Payments

• Hospitals in "low‐cost" areas receive higher Medicare payments for 2 years

• All new plans must provide preventative care free of charge.

• ObamaCare does away with annual spending caps.

• ObamaCare greatly eliminates lifetime limits and reduces annual limits of health insurance plans.

• The healthcare reform timeline establishes new tools to fight fraud, this returned more than $2.5 billion in 2009 alone.

• Cuts $716 Billion from Medicare and Medicare advantage and reinvests it back into Medicare and ObamaCare (this obviously covers a lot of ground. Read more on ObamaCare and Medicare.)

• ObamaCare places a $2500 limit on tax free spending under FSAs (flexible spending accounts).

• ObamaCare establishes state consumer assistance programs to help consumers file complaints, appeals, enroll in health care and other consumer related assistance to better understand trouble spots that need oversight.

• Your FSA cost of an over-the-counter medicine or drug cannot be reimbursed from Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) or health reimbursement arrangements unless a prescription is obtained. The change does not affect insulin, even if purchased without a prescription, or other health care expenses such as medical devices, eye glasses,contact lenses, co-pays and deductibles. A similar rule went into effect on Jan. 1, 2011, for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Archer Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSAs).

• FSA and HRA participants can continue using debit cards to buy prescribed over-the-counter medicines, if requirements are met.

• The hospital "pay-for-quality" program begins. This is part of an overall effort to promote quality not quantity in the health care industry.

• There is a 3.8% tax increase on capital gains over, unearned income, interest, dividends, annuities, rent, royalties, and inactive businesses. Exemptions include income from tax-exempt bonds, veterans benefits and qualified plan distributions such as those from an IRA or 401k.

• The 3.8% tax does not apply to selling your primary residence in most cases.

• The Affordable Care Act has a 5 year plan that works to simplify administrative tasks associated with health insurance such as reducing paperwork.

• Starting in 2012 there is a new tax on private health insurance plans.

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2013

• Health Insurance Exchanges Open for low to middle income Americans to make it easier for them to shop for health insurance. Those making over 400% of the poverty level can shop on the exchange but will not receive tax credits or discounts. The insurance purchased on the exchange doesn't go into effect until Jan 1st, 2014.

• Tax credits, discounts on out-of-pocket costs, tax breaks and other subsides are available on the exchange. The help you get on the exchange is directly related to your gross adjusted income.

• There is a .9% ObamaCare Medicare tax on those making over $200k as an individual or $250k as a business or family. This accounts for somewhere between 1.5% and 4.2% of tax payers (these numbers are from recent IRS and census reports, 2% is often used as a rough and not inaccurate estimate. Most sources agree the number is under 3%. 3% is also the number of businesses making over this amount in taxable income).

• 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income over $200 for individuals and $250 for families and businesses.

• $500,00 deduction cap on compensation paid to insurance company workers

• ObamaCare lays out new rules about the amount that can be contributed to an FSA. A cap of $2,500 is applied to reform FSA's and prevent individuals from overpaying and then needing to rush to use the money before it disappears.

• Part D Coverage Gap or "Donut Hole" reduction goes into effect

• Eliminates deduction for Part D retiree drug subsidies for employers

• increases (7.5% to 10%) threshold at which medical expenses, as a % of income, can be deductible)

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2014

• There is a tax starting at 1% of your income or $95 and raising to 2.5% of your income or $685 by 2016 for individuals. For a family it's capped at $285 in 2014 and rises to $2,085 by 2016 It cannot exceed these amounts. This helps pay for emergency and future coverage you may need. The tax penalty is paid on your tax returns. This is a "tax" not a "mandate".

• Congress must shop on the exchange.

• Pharmaceutical companies are subject to a new tax

• ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion expands coverage to 17 million low-income individuals (The supreme court ruling has given states the opportunity to opt-out of Medicaid expansion).

• A health insurance exchange is set up by states or the federal government if the states decides not to run their own exchange.

• Employers will be able to shop on the health insurance exchanges for employee insurance

• Tax credits, tax breaks and help with up-front costs are available to those struggling to pay for insurance.

• There is a new tax on medical devices

• Insurance companies are taxed based on their market share.

• ObamaCare Raises the bar on medical expenses before you deduct them from your taxes.

• Small Business Employers can shop for employee coverage on the health insurance exchange.

ObamaCare 2015

• Doctors income is based on quality of care not quantity of care. This is a vast simplification of the actual documentation in the bill. It is a protection from the current fee-for-service payment model.

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2017

• States can implement their own plans which meet the standards of ObamaCare such as single-payer. (similar to ObamaCare, but instead of buying private insurance everyone pays a tax and everyone has coverage)

• Provides states flexibility to allow businesses with more than 100 employees to purchase coverage in the SHOP Exchange

• No more preexisting conditions for anyone including high-risk customers.

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2018

• All healthcare plans including plans held since before plans had to offer preventive care must now offer preventive coverage.

• The "Cadillac" tax for higher quality coverage for individuals and employers purchasing insurance for employees is put in place.

ObamaCare Health Care Reform 2020

• ObamaCare fully eliminates the Medicare Gap (instead of just offering rebates to seniors)

For more information on health care reform check out our extensive coverage of Obama Care Facts

Health Care Reform Timeline Summary

Obama's Health Care Reform Bill is 1990 pages long. The wording is confusing, but the details of every benefit, tax, protection and reform is listed clearly. This health care reform Timeline gives you a good idea of everything that in contained in the bill and how its provisions unfold over the next decade. We will continue to update our health care reform timeline to keep it accurate and up to date in order to help provide all information on ObamaCare health care reform in one easy to use place.

Cost of ObamaCare: Obama Care Cost

What Does ObamaCare Cost?

What is the cost of ObamaCare? ObamaCare, Obama's new health care law, is said a massive impact on health care costs. ObamaCare's cost is estimated at up to $1.1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. The truth is that Obamacare costs, it will save the government money by reducing the health care costs of many Americans via a healthcare plan that results in a net decrease of the deficit.

Obamacare is projected to cut the national deficit by over $200 billion during it's first 10 years and over $1 trillion over the next two decades. This helps offset the up-front cost of ObamaCare which is shared by taxpayers and cuts and reformations to the health insurance and health care industry.

(Cost of ObamaCare Image Public Domain)

The Cost of Not Having ObamaCare

The cost of not having ObamaCare?:  In a study by FamiliesUSA reported that each week 502 Americans die due to a lack of health insurance. That is 2,175 Americans dead each month. The true cost of Obamacare isn't in healthcare costs and taxes, it's in the lives of Americans like you and me.

The same study showed that between 2005 and 2010 that the number of people who died prematurely due to a lack ofhealth coverage a year rose from 20,350 to 26,100.

(These figures are from 2010, Obamacare signed on Oct 1st 2010 made its first steps toward providing quality affordable health insurance to individuals and families struggling with rising health care costs.)

So while there are costs, it is both economic reform and healthcare reform that will decrease payments of many Americans and only impact those who can afford to pay a little more.

The cost of not having ObamaCare isn't just a human issue. ObamaCare helps to reduce health care spending. Currently the $2.8 trillion U.S. healthcare system costs nearly $9,000 a year for every man, woman and child. Growth in health care spending has long outpaced inflation by wide margins, and following the U.S. recession of 2008 and 2009 has contributed to weak job creation, low expansion of wages and a high level of personal bankruptcies.

ObamaCare Cost for The Federal Government

The ObamaCare cost for the Federal Government is a $1.1 trillion net cost. This number is an updated estimate by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). However, a number of factors including taxes, fees and penalties will reduce the federal deficits by $210 billion over the 2012-2021 period.

Gross additional costs of ObamaCare include $1.5 trillion for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program(CHIP), as well as tax credits and other subsidies for the ObamaCare exchanges and small businesses, among other things. These costs are offset by penalty payments, health care cost cuts, new health care industry taxes, and a new excise tax on high-premium insurance plans.

How Do We Pay For ObamaCare Costs?

Many sections of the Affordable Health Care Act cover the cost of Obamacare and how we will pay for national healthcare reform over the next decade. Here are some of the measures that will help pay for the Obama's healthcare reform:

First in order to help pay for the cost of Obamacare businesses and families will pay an additional .9% tax on taxable income and 3.8% capital gains exceeding $200k / $250k.

Obamacare also cuts $716 billion from Medicare and invests it back into Medicaid, Medicare and the healthcare system, so a lot of the money is coming from cutting waste, not just in Medicare but in the health care industry as a whole.

There is also a $63 dollar fee on insurance plans (it decreases every month until 2017) that covers high-risk pools for pre-existing conditions.

Most of the other funding for ObamaCare comes from taxes on the healthcare industry including, a tax on companies who manufacturer non-generic drugs and some medical device manufacturers. Read the complete list ofObamaCare taxes and their costs.

Most American families, those making under $250k will see up to a $4k reduction in their healthcare costs after tax credits, of course the more you make the less you save. The quality of your healthcare and the security of knowing you can't be dropped for be sick or denied for a preexisting condition is a protection most Americans couldn't rely on before ObamaCare.

If you choose not to purchase insurance (and can afford it) there is a 1% tax in 2014, it raises to a 2.5% tax in 2016 and adjusts for inflation. This tax is the "income tax" you may hear about, and is the only income tax hike in ObamaCare and the only tax most Americans will pay.

In order to ease the burden of Obama Care's cost 19 million Americans will receive tax credits to help pay for healthcare.

Costs of ObamaCare for Small Businesses

While most people and small businesses in the United States will benefit from Obamacare, Obamacare will cost employers with over 50 employees a penalty if they do not choose to provide their workers with affordable and reliable health care. Individuals will also pay a tax penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance to help offset costs. The tax is $2000 per worker or $3000 if they buy insurance through the exchange.

This system is like the current unemployment tax already in effect which requires American businesses to pay a modest and fair tax to aid the state run unemployment and workers compensation programs. With ObamaCare the penalty helps pay for workers who will buy insurance through the exchange or need emergency services, both which will drive the cost of health care up for the rest of us.

Who Qualifies for Help With ObamaCare Insurance Costs

The following chart will help you to find out who qualifies with help with insurance costs under The Affordable Care Act.

Health Insurance FinancingIndividual Annual Income

Family of Four Annual Income

     Medicaid health coverage, if your state decides to offer it Up to $15,302 Up to $31,155     Help to pay your premium, if you buy in your state's online marketplace

Between $11,505-$46,021

Between $23,425-$93,700

     Subsidies for out-of-pocket costs, if you buy in your state's online marketplace

Up to $28,763 Up to $58,564

Many American families will see a cost reduction under ObamaCare and many more will qualify for Medicare and Medicaid due to the expansion of the program. When the online marketplace opens on OCT 1st, 2013 a easy to use form, cost calculator and an easy to use comparison of insurance options will help you pick the right plan for you and your family.

Employers with under 25 full time employees may qualify for tax credits and tax breaks.

In order to ease the burden of Obama Care's cost 19 million Americans will receive tax credits to help pay for healthcare.

If you are making over 400% of the poverty line you can expect to pay just about what you do now, except receive better coverage. If you make under you will most likely save on health insurance costs. Individuals making between $50k and $75k AGI (9% of Americans) who don't want insurance and will have to pay the 2.5% penalty (by 2016) will most likely be hit the hardest.

Use this cost calculator   from the Kaiser Foundation to get an idea of the cost of ObamaCare for you and your family after subsidies. Please be aware this is a basic estimate for the cost of a 'silver' plan (the second tier plan, as opposed to the basic 'bronze plan' on the Exchange). Also note, the total cost is greatly affected by "regional cost factor" (increasing or decreasing the premium by 20%). Further subsidies may be available depending on a number of other factors.

How Much Does ObamaCare Cost The Average American?

Your insurance premium costs (plus out of pocket costs and co-pays) are based on a number of factors including your adjusted gross income, the quality of coverage you purchase and where you purchase your coverage. ObamaCare regulates insurance companies, but you will still be purchasing private insurance (unless you choose to pay the penalty or are covered under Medicaid/Medicare).

So what is the true cost of ObamaCare? ObamaCare costs what people can afford. For many Americans this means better coverage for less money, for many it means coverage over no or poor coverage, for others it means paying a little more to ensure healthcare for millions of uninsured Americans. Let us know what ObamaCare costs you and we'll share your story.

ObamaCare: Myths About Health Care Reform

Separating the ObamaCare Facts from the ObamaCare Myths 2013 and Beyond

The ObamaCare Myths about health care aren't just confusing, they are wrong. ObamaCare myths range From it premium increases to Obama Care planting chips in all Americans. ObamaCare Facts aims find out the truth behind the Myths about Obamacare. When it comes to the well being of Americans, there is no room for opinions and rhetoric.

The Following Are Some Common Myths About Obama's Health Care Reform

New ObamaCare myths are coming out everyday, keep checking back as we fact check the rhetoric.

ObamaCare Myth: Obamacare Means Higher Premiums

Obamacare stops insurance companies from raising premiums on sick people or people with preexisting conditions.

Obamacare also lets you shop health insurance on an insurance exchange where healthcare providers must offer affordable quality healthcare to compete for your business, coupled with the new regulations ObamaCare is projected to lower most Americans insurance premiums by 5 - 7% based on the last CBO report.

Be aware however, that some insurance companies are raising your rights now while they can still get away with it. ObamaCare prevents insurance companies from raising your premiums for profit come 2014.

PLEASE NOTE: No one can give you an exact cost estimate of what health insurance premiums will cost you under ObamaCare the health insurance providers start competing in the exchanges, until then anything else you hear is a myth.

Obamacare cuts premiums for for millions of American Families and Small Businesses resulting in the biggest tax cut for the middle class in history!

ObamaCare Myth: Obamacare Means Higher Taxes

Most Americans you will save thousands of dollars a year on medical costs and taxes. In fact ObamaCare includes the biggest middle class tax cut to health insurance in our nations history by lowering premiums for millions of families. Please note however that while are a few taxes that may impact Americans above 133% of the poverty level, the only one that impacts them directly is the penalty taken off on your income tax for not purchasing insurance.

The only people who are effected by the 3.8% tax you hear about are about 3% of businesses and 140,000 of Americas richest families with income over $250k and capital gains over $250k. - See ObamaCare Taxes for More info and Myth debunking on taxes.

In other words Obamacare provides 99% of families and 97% of small businesses with better quality healthcare for less money.

ObamaCare Myth: Lower Wage / Fewer Jobs

The biggest job creators are small businesses with under 10 employees, next is under 20, next is under 30 employees (it goes on from there). These businesses will actually grow since they have the hardest time providing coverage and affording it for themselves. Only businesses with over 50 employees who don't already provide health benefits to their full-timers will be affected. These businesses account for .2% of the population. While employees of some of those companies may have their hours cut, ObamaCare actually creates millions of jobs, including newhealth care jobs.

Most of the top 3% of small businesses polled that the idea that ObamaCare would affect their job growth or hiring process was a myth.

ObamaCare Myth: Death Panels

The concept of death panels, panels that provision health care and decide if you will live or die, is an ObamaCare myth. There is however, a finical advisory panel that studies treatments to keep health care costs down. There was a provision in the health care bill that had to be removed due to this rumor. The provision would have paid doctors for providing voluntary counseling to Medicare patients about wills and end-of-life care options. Removing the provision did, ironically, hurt seniors. That fact is you're health care is in the hands of you and your doctor. ObamaCare regulates insurance not health care.

ObamaCare Myth: Obamacare Comfort Care

There has been an ObamaCare myth going around since 2011 when a "brain surgeon" called up the Mark Levin show to let him know that patients over 70 years old could be given "comfort care" instead of brain surgery depending on the decision of a panel. This "neurosurgeon's" claim has since been debunked by both the AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the CNS (Congress of Neurological Surgeons). We have also checked out the ObamaCare bill itself and can confirm this is a myth. The AANS stated that the man was most likely not a neurosurgeon and was rather a man calling pretending to be.

ObamaCare Myth: Standard of Living Will Decrease

Since your taxes probably won't be affected, your health care costs will go down and your health care will improve the chances of it affecting your standard of living negatively is unlikely. For the country ObamaCare decreases the deficit by over $200 billion dollars.

ObamaCare Myth: Medicare / Medicaid is Under Attack

Obamacare reforms Medicare and expands access of Medicaid to millions. There are a number of reformations to Medicare such as closing the "donut hole" for prescription meds, providing better health services and reforming Medicare Advantage (a private Medicare option that lets Medicare be traded on the market, despite taxpayer funding. It currently costs tax payers more than Medicare and Medicaid).

Large portions of ObamaCare address improving and expanding Medicare for seniors and cutting waste. Medicaid is not reformed, but is expanded to 15 million low-income Americans. Supporting Obamacare is probably the best way to stand behind Medicare / Medicaid.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare implants a "CHIP" in you when you get health care... The Mark of the Beast.

We have received multiple letters from concerned readers who believe that they will have a chip planted in them. They are being told that this is in the text of the Affordable Care Act.

Here is example: I don't think it is right for president to decide to put chips in the citizens of American hands or anybody else we as Americans have the right to decided if we want the chip its the mark of the BEAST People wake up its in the bible

This is a myth. We read the bill and did a search for (this part of the chain email):

The Obama Health care bill under Class II (Paragraph 1, Section B) specifically includes ‘‘(ii) a class II device that is implantable."  Then on page 1004 it describes what the term "data" means in paragraph 1, section B:

14 ‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘data’ refers to in 15 formation respecting a device described in paragraph (1),16 including claims data, patient survey data, standardized17 analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of18 data from disparate data environments, electronic health19 records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the20 Secretary"

The quoted part of the law is about better data collecting of medical records, to reform the way which data is collected to better treat patients. The devices described in paragraph (1) are life support devices.

The Only CHIP in the bill is the "Children's Health Insurance Plan". CHIP provides funds to states in order to cover children in families that do not qualify for Medicaid, but still have modest incomes. CHIP provides insurance to more than 5 million kids. It's part of ObamaCare ensuring all Children have health coverage.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare Forces Abortions and Contraceptives

ObamaCare gives religious institutions an opt-out for providing women's health service+s. Also, coverage is not required by health care companies or exchange commissioners. However, federal funding may go to women's services depending on a number of factors, it doesn't force anyone to do anything in regards to these services.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare Rations Health Care

This is an ObamaCare myth. The new health care law doesn't ration health care, but insurance companies do.

ObamaCare actually funds research, establishes committees and enacts a number of provisions that protect consumers from the health care rationing insurance companies have been doing for ages.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare is Socialist

Obamacare is a program that everyone pays into (taxes) in order to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable quality healthcare (protections and services). Medicare / Medicaid / Social Security are all programs that work like this.

Obamacare allows us all to purchase our own private insurance in a regulated market place. This embraces the ideas of capitalism, regulated free market and freedom of choice, along with the government's protection of your new health care related rights.

Simply calling Obamacare a redistribution of the wealth or socialism is a very broad and inaccurate generalization of the law. Plus there is a 97% chance that wealth is being "redistributed" to your family and small business giving you and your family better coverage, bigger tax breaks and putting money back in your pocket.

ObamaCare Myth: We Need Less Government

Your preference as to whether or not you appreciate the need for the Government that our founding fathers saw a need for is irrelevant when it discussing Obamacare. This is an issue of "do we need healthcare reform" not "do we need more government".

On the subject however would mean undoing hundreds of years of progress and handing our country over to corporations. Regulations, laws and taxes are all very important to our every day lives. What would we have done post 9/11 without government? We are the government, why fight against ourselves?

Needing less Government is a Myth that is passed to Americans through talking points by those who would benefit from having "less government" and letting the free market run everything. What they really want is to trade all of our public programs and then use tax loop holes not to pay taxes on that money, bankrupting our country, using your tax dollars!

ObamaCare Myth: Privacy / Freedom Will Be Jeopardized

During the Bush years the current Obamacare opponents backed the Patriot Act which took away most of your privacies. The idea that ObamaCare takes away your freedom is a myth. It doesn't make you do anything, aside from have insurance or pay a tax.

Despite these facts at the end of the day ObamaCare costing you your freedom is a Myth. You will most likely save money and all Americans will have access to better regulated Affordable Healthcare. We will all have better preventative services and be secure in knowing we won't be dropped when we are sick or denied for a preexisting condition.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare is Unconstitutional: Not only is ObamaCare constitutional it has been a law since 2010. The supreme court upheld the law, reaffirming that that ObamaCare isn't unconstitutional.

ObamaCare Myth: ObamaCare "Culling" Seniors: ObamaCare does nothing but help seniors, it is certainly not "culling" seniors. They are one of the few groups who are pretty much ensured that they will pay less and get more.

Finding Out More About ObamaCare Myths

These are just some of the Obamacare myths. Is Obamacare perfect, probably not, but if you don't like it you need to base your opinion on facts and not the Obamacare Myths we just debunked. None of them are even remotely true. If you don't believe this article, that's OK.

You can check out our Affordable Care Act Summary or Even the Full Affordable Care Act Bill and do all the research you want. Don't believe the ObamaCare Myths, The Obama Care Facts speak for themselves.

ObamaCare: Pros and Cons of ObamaCare

Discussing the Pros and Cons of ObamaCare

What are the pros and cons of ObamaCare? The ObamaCare pros and cons mirror the complex nature of the new health care law. ObamaCare contains many benefits, especially for low and middle income families and businesses. ObamaCare also contains some obstacles for high earners, larger firms that don't insure their employees and certain sectors of the healthcare industry. The Pros and Cons of ObamaCare boil down to this, the average American has a lot to gain and little to lose, while those making more, including larger firms and consequently their employees, may notice negative effects.

Why Create This List of ObamaCare Pros and Cons?

This ObamaCare pros and cons list is meant to give you an idea of the most praised and most controversial aspects of of the 2000 plus page bill. Too many online sources only want to give you one side of the story, we aim to bring you an unbiased look at both the negative and positive aspects of the bill. Let's start off discussing the ObamaCare pros and ObamaCare cons for majority groups of Americans, then we will go through some specific points of the bill that are commonly thought of as ObamaCare pros and cons.

The Pros and Cons of ObamaCare for the Average American

The Average American (those making under 400% FLP) will most likely see a reduction in their insurance premiums and 30 of the 44 million without insurance will gain access coverage via the "ObamaCare" exchanges, Medicare or Medicaid.

ObamaCare offers a number of protections and benefits that range from chipping away at preexisting conditions to expanding health services. Overall the quality of health care is increased, while the cost, in theory, will be reduced. Middle income Americans (those making between 133% - 400% of the federal poverty level), and employees will be able to use tax credits and subsidies on the exchanges to save up to 60% of the current cost of premiums making insurance affordable to up to 23 million Americans.

One of the cons of ObamaCare is that since many Americans work for larger employers, some employees may have the new costs involved with insuring their workforce passed onto them. Other workers will see a decrease

in quality of plans offered by employers, to avoid the employer paying a excise tax on high-end health insurance plans. These cons will affect less than 1% of businesses, and only a small fraction will deal with the new challenges by cutting worker hours, benefits or not hiring new workers.

The Pros and Cons of ObamaCare for Women

When it comes to women ObamaCare offers many pros and few cons, 47 million women will gain access to women's health services, including preventative and wellness services. Many of ObamaCare's new benefits for women are required by law to have no out of pocket payments. There aren't many cons for women beyond those of the Average American, however there is the issue of contraception and it's availability, something ObamaCare expands, which is a hot button issue.

ObamaCare Pros and Cons for Low-Income Americans

Low-income Americans will enjoy more ObamaCare pros than cons. Since ObamaCare works on a sliding scale most low income Americans, especially those without insurance, will see nothing but benefits. Medicaid expansion will cover over 15 million low-income individuals and families below the 133% FLP mark.

The cons of ObamaCare for low-income Americans are that some states will have the option of opting out of coverage for their poorest, despite 100% federal funding for the first year and 90% there after. This move isn't just to save money (it's arguable whether it saves or makes money for the State, studies have show both outcomes, however it's all projection at this point), it's actually a politically driven move to "break" ObamaCare. The opt-out is projected to leave 2 to 3 million low-income Americans without coverage.

NOTE: The accusations of Some State reps trying to "break" ObamaCare isn't something we are speculating or have made up. It's readily available information on conservative blogs. It's no secret a portion of the GOP wants to repeal ObamaCare, they just so happen to have a strategic plan that includes "breaking" the Exchanges and Medicaid Expansion. Unfortunately ObamaCare isn't just going away, and Americans seem to be caught in the crossfire.

ObamaCare Pros and Cons for Seniors

ObamaCare's pros and cons for Seniors include unprecedented reforms to Medicare, including closing the "donut hole" and expanding benefits and coverage options. Millions of Seniors have already saved money or taken advantage of the no out of pocket costs for wellness and preventative visits.

Some of the reforms to Medicare include reductions to Medicare Advantage, home health care payments and Medicare hospital payments. Some of these have had or may have negative impacts on seniors and doctors who work with patients on Medicare. An oversight committee is in charge of making sure that Medicare reform doesn't hurt seniors.

Pros and Cons of ObamaCare for Businesses

Small Businesses will only see the pros of ObamaCare while firms who don't already provide insurance and their employees will face readjustment. However only .2% of firms with over 50 employees don't already provide insurance to their full-time employees. A big pro of ObamaCare is that it provides millions in tax credits to small businesses with under 25 employees to help offset the cost of buying health insurance for their employees. Small business has historically struggled to provide benefits to workers and half of Americans uninsured are small business owners, workers or dependents.

List of ObamaCare Pros and Cons

List of Pros and Cons in ObamaCare: Some people oppose ObamaCare as a whole, but considering the 2000 plus pages of complex legislation contained within the Affordable Care Act,

it's hard to justify a total repeal of the law. Here are some of the things ObamaCare does right, and a few that may have a negative impact on America.

Pros of ObamaCare

Most of ObamaCare's 2000 plus pages are filled with really impressive and long overdo reforms to the $2.6 trillion dollar health care system. ObamaCare gives 30 of 44 million uninsured Americans access to health insurance. Tens of millions of Americans have already benefited from ObamaCare's improved health care services and the average family has already saved thousands on health care costs last year alone. Here are some of the Benefits of the Obamacare bill:

ObamaCare Pros: New HealthCare Benefits

ObamaCare gives Americans access to hundreds of new health care benefits. There are too many to count, and would make for a pretty unbiased (looking) list. However these benefits,(aside form ones mentioned elsewhere on this page, include: No annual or lifetime limits, children can stay on their parents plans to 26, FDA can approve more generic drugs driving prices down and breaking monopolies and protections against discrimination for gender, disabilities and domestic abuse. Check out our ObamaCare Health Care Reform Timeline for a comprehensive list.

ObamaCare Pros: Preventative and Wellness Services

Millions of Americans now have access to preventative and wellness services with no out of pocket costs. The specific benefits can be found on our Benefits of ObamaCare page.

ObamaCare Pros: Consumer Protections

ObamaCare regulates insurance, referred to as the "rate hike" review, enacts the "80/20" rule that makes health insurance providers spend at least 80% of their income on health and marketing expenses or must be returned asrebates and being dropped from coverage for being sick or denied from a preexisting condition are all out the window in the next few years. ObamaCare has a long list of protections that are protecting your new rights, including a mandate on fast food restaurants to display calories to promote wellness.

ObamaCare Pros: Cost Assistance for the Middle Class and Small Business

Those under 400% of the federal poverty level (Roughly 88k for a family of 4) could save up to 60% on their premiums via tax credits and subsidies on the health insurance exchanges. Small businesses with less than 25 full time employees have this advantage as well.

ObamaCare Pros: Medicaid Expansion

Those under 133% of the poverty level will (in states that have not opted out of Medicaid Expansion) will be able to be covered now that ObamaCare is expanding Medicaid to low income Americans who were left without enough money to afford insurance and too much to qualify for Medicaid.

ObamaCare Pros: Improvements to Medicare

ObamaCare does a lot for Medicare. For the most part these things are great and have already benefited tens of millions of seniors. ObamaCare closes the Medicare drug 'donut hole', provides

improved preventative and wellness services with no out of pocket cost and reforms aspects of Medicare to improve overall care for seniors.

ObamaCare Pros: Quality Over Quantity

Doctors and hospitals will be moved from a system where they are rewarded for providing quality care, instead of being reward for quantity. May of the provisions to enforce this punish high turnover rates, this however has some unintended consequences. Some doctors and health care institutions are getting hit hard from this, although the overall reform will create a better health care system for all Americans.

ObamaCare Pros: Oversight Committees

159 new boards, agencies and programs are created by ObamaCare to oversee spending and to ensure ObamaCare is working correctly. Though sometimes listed as a con, having oversight on a reform of this size is mandatory to ensure to program works. It's important to note that ObamaCare doesn't ration healthcare, rather it regulates the health insurance industry who have been rationing our health care for years. Your health care is still between you and your doctor and determined by your private insurance.

Cons of ObamaCare

Even though ObamaCare does a lot right, it does have some consequences for specific groups of Americans. ObamaCare does hurt a small percentage of small businesses, has had a negative effect on insurance premiums and has made some reforms that have hurt some medical industries and their workers.

ObamaCare Cons: Taxes on Small Business

.2% of firms in the US have over 50 full-time employees and will have to choose to insure full-time workers or pay a fine. To avoid this some businesses will cut employee hours or not hire. Some things worth noting are that the fine isn't paid for your first 30 workers. Also, many businesses are coming up with solutions that don't hurt the workforce such as passing the extra costs onto consumers. Please be aware that when politicians say, "small business" they are also referring to the top 3% of small businesses who include Hedge Funds which use loopholes to pass as small businesses.

ObamaCare Cons: Religious Beliefs

There is some argument over ObamaCare funding women's health services like contraception. There are exceptions built into the law to refuse to provide these services to women based on religious grounds, but this has non the less been causing issues on the ground, in the political arena and in the courts.

ObamaCare Cons: Rising Premiums

ObamaCare doesn't raise premiums itself. In fact it reforms the insurance industry, finding ways to drive down costs, make the quality of insurance better and prevent insurance company abuses like . Unfortunately many provisions of ObamaCare that offer protections to consumers do not go into law until 2014. In the meantime premium rates have been rising at alarming rates. ObamaCare doesn't offer a protection beyond allowing states to enact the provision against price gouging. Many States are enforcing this, while others aren't. ObamaCare Insurance Premium Rate Hikes

ObamaCare Cons: ObamaCare Insurance Exchanges

Another con of ObamaCare is that 21 states planning to or are opting out of the State Run Exchanges, letting the federal government run their exchanges for them. The claim is that this is a cost cutting measure for the State, however the truth is much more complicated. This provision was meant to be in the bill, but it is being abused as a way to avoid providing subsidies to low and middle income Americans and forcing the Federal taxpayers to take care of anti-ObamaCare state's constituents. This has resulted in a 3.5% fee for insurance companies to sell insurance on the federal exchange. Learn more about the State Run Insurance Exchanges

ObamaCare Cons: Tax for Not Buying Insurance

Come 2014 you purchase insurance or pay a "penalty income tax". The first year it is $95 or 1% of your income. In order for the program to work at its best ideally everyone would have insurance resulting in affordable quality insurance for all, the tax helps offset the estimated 6 million people will pay the fine in the first year instead of purchasing insurance.

ObamaCare Cons: Big Business Taxes

Medical device taxes and "drug innovator" taxes dig into the profits of some of the power houses in their respective industries. These taxes are a reaction to the large profit margins these companies have and the hold they have over the competition. They drive up the cost of health care, thus they are taxed to help pay for health care reform. However, taxes on large businesses may have unintended consequences in the job market and in aspects of the health care industry. We don't have proof of their effects yet.

ObamaCare Cons: Taxes on the 2%

The top 2% of businesses and individuals in the US will pay some extra taxes. You could argue that are closer to the 3% will get hit the hardest because the have the least extra cash to stay in the game with so it hurts them more. However the most vocal opponents and the ones who fund the anti-ObamaCare campaigns are the big businesses who don't like regulation, entitlement programs or any tax or program that affects their bottom line. Aside from the above mentioned consequences its important not to make their interests our own.

ObamaCare Cons: ObamaCare Hurts Medicare

ObamaCare cuts $716 billion from Medicare and reinvests the money back into the program. Since there is such a big overhaul ObamaCare set up a committee to oversee spending and effectiveness. Due to the sheer volume of reforms some of them, even though well intentioned, are sure to have unintended consequences and need adjusting. Although ObamaCare has already helped tens of millions of seniors save money on drugs and get access to better health care, there are some caveats.

ObamaCare Cons: ObamaCare Cost

ObamaCare is projected to cost $1.1 trillion over the next ten years, and in order for the program to work as intended this is going to include funding from the tax payers and from the States. However, the end result of Obamacares spending is a $200 billion dollar reduction of the deficit over the next decade, states also receive between 90 - 100% of funding for most ObamaCare related programs they set up. A few states including Nevada and Michigan have done studies that show how the States can save billions with ObamaCare. Health Insurance companies stand to make billions, despite a loss on profit per plan, since they will be insuring millions of new Americans.

How to Move Forward with The Pros and Cons of ObamaCare

Fixing the parts of ObamaCare that don't work isn't as simple as just "repealing" ObamaCare (an action that would cost tax payers billions). Dealing with the pros and cons is something that is already built into the bill via oversight committees and other forward thinking provisions in the law. With so many aspects of the law yet to come into fruition we won't be able to do much beyond speculate until around 2014 when the exchanges open and many of ObamaCare's most important provisions go into effect. As the pros and cons of ObamaCare become clear the bill can be amended and updated in a continued effort to reform health care in the United States.

 

What is ObamaCare / What is Obama Care?

What is Obama Care? What is the Health Care For America Plan?

You've heard of ObamaCare, but what is ObamaCare or the Health Care For America Plan exactly? Obama Care (also known as the Health Care for America Plan) is a national health care plan aimed at reforming the American health care system. ObamaCare's main focus is on regulating the health insurance industry and reducing spending in health care.

What is Obama Care?: Obama Care is the unofficial name for The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In a more general sense Obama Care and The Health Care for America Plan or any such name is a reference to the ongoing health care reform under President Obama.

(What is ObamaCare? President Obama Portrait Public Domain by WhiteHouse.org)

The Obama administration has been working on a plan for American health care reform since Barack Obama was first elected into office. (The Democratic Party has been working on health care reform much longer than that.)

ObamaCare: What is it, and What Does it Mean to American Health Care?

So what is Obamacare and what does it mean to you? There are really only a few things you need to knowabout President Barrack Obama's Obama Care / Health Care Plan For America.

• The Affordable Care Act contains over two thousand pages of reforms to the insurance industry and the health care industry in order to cut healthcare costs and to provide affordable health insurance to all Americans.

• There are around 44 million Americans who currently are unable to get health insurance. What ObamaCare does is help these individuals to get health insurance through expanding Medicaid and Medicare and offering assistance to Americans who cannot currently afford healthcare.

What Does ObamaCare Do?

Now that we know what ObamaCare is, it's time to find out what's in Obama's health care reform. Here are some of the most important aspects of the law:

• ObamaCare provides insurance to millions of low-income and middle-income Americans by providing discounts on state or federal run health insurance exchanges. Find out exactly what the Health Insurance Exchange is and how it works.

• Although the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was signed into law in 2010, the health care reforms it provides roll out year by year until 2022. Many of the biggest reforms don't kick in until 2014. Find Out More AboutObamaCare Benefits and Services

• Obama Care guarantees that Health Care is available to any legal U.S. resident who cannot otherwise obtain "good" healthcare through their employer. Your access to health care is no longer in the hands of health insurance companies.

• Gives American Employers with over 50 employees the choice between providing insurance that meets the standards of ObamaCare or paying a penalty. This penalty helps to offset the cost of employees who aren't covered through their employer to purchase insurance through the public health insurance exchanges instead of using emergency services.

• Employers with less than 25 employees may qualify for tax credits, tax breaks and other assistance for insuring employees.

• Unless you make over $200k individual / $250k as a family or small business you are exempt from the 3.8% unearned income and .9% Medicare tax increase.

• ObamaCare requires that all Americans have health insurance either through a private provider or through a state or federal assisted program. If you don't have insurance you must pay a tax equal to 1% of your income in 2014 and 2.5% in 2016.

• Obama Health Care isn't a mandate, it's a tax (you can opt out and pay a tax if you don't want health insurance). What ObamaCare does do is give Americans the option to be covered regardless of income or preexisting conditions and prevents insurance companies from dropping their insurance when they are sick.

• Obama's HealthCare for America Plan aims to reform the healthcare industry by cutting out waste, reallocating where government funding goes, fixing what doesn't work and most of all ensuring healthcare for Americans.

Now that we've answered the question "What is ObamaCare?". Now it's time to figure out what the Obama Care $700+ billion dollar tax cut to Medicare really means and to get the rest of the ObamaCare Facts .

How Does ObamaCare Work?

How ObamaCare Works For You, Your Family and Your Business

How does ObamaCare work? With the Insurance Exchange Pools opening in 2013 the question on our minds is, "How does ObamaCare work for me, my family and my business." The first thing you need to know about ObamaCare (The Affordable Health Care Act) is that you will either need to decide to keep your current insurance plan or purchase an insurance plan through an online marketplace otherwise known as an health insurance exchange pool.

Don't just assume you like or dislike Obama's Health Care Reform under the Affordable Care Act based of of what other people say. Find out the facts about Obamacare works for you, your family and your business.

ObamaCare Exchange: The Health Insurance Exchange Pool

Health insurance will be made available through the ObamaCare Health Insurance Exchange Pool. The exchange is a group of health insurance providers that will offer coverage. You will choose the provider you want for you, your family or business based off of who offers the most attractive package in regards of affordability and quality of coverage.

The exchange pools are meant to be competitive so this will help drive the quality up and cost down. Consumer Reports has provided a great breakdown of how to buy ObamaCare, we have provided this information on our site to help you better understand what the Affordable Care Act means for you.

Consumer Reports On ObamaCare Online Marketplace

Here is what Consumer Reports says about Obamacare, "Online insurance marketplaces. Beginning January 1,

2014, individuals, families, and small business owners will be able to shop for health insurance in online marketplaces, similar to travel websites. These marketplaces,also called "exchanges," will make it possible toeasily compare and buy private insurance and determine if you qualify for financial help.

The marketplaces will be open for business October 1, 2013, selling coverage that begins January 1, 2014. You may qualify for discountsto help pay for premiums if your income is from $15,302 to $46,021 for an individual and $31,155 to $93,700 for a family of four. You can also find out if you qualify for extra subsidies to help with out-of-pocket costs or for government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan.

How To Buy ObamaCare

For coverage beginning January 1, 2014, a new way to buy insurance will be available in October of 2013. You will still be able to purchase insurance on your own directly from an insurance company or through a broker.

But you will also be able to use the new, state-based health insurance marketplaces, which are also called exchanges. There are two big advantages to using the online marketplace.

One, you can make side-by-side, "apples-to-apples" comparisons of all the available plans, and use an online calculator to find the best buy.

Two, you may qualify for an up-front discount in the form of a tax credit to help pay for your premiums, and you might also get help with your out-of-pocket costs.

Anyone without insurance through work can purchase private health insurance from the insurers participating in your state marketplace. And, you can also use it if your coverage at work costs you more than 9.5 percent of your income, or if your employer's plan does not meet the law's minimum standards.

The online marketplaces will be open for business starting October 1, 2013, offering coverage that starts January1, 2014. States must decide whether to build their own or partner with the federal government. Some states will end up choosing to let the federal government run their online marketplaces.

How the ObamaCare Online Marketplace Works?

• You'll be able to easily compare and purchase health plans offered by private insurers, and in some states, co-ops of doctors and nonprofit organizations that meet state insurance regulations. You will be able to choose among plans with higher or lower deductible and co-pays, and higher or lower premiums.

• A streamlined "one stop" process will let you fill out one application to find out if you qualify for premium discounts, subsidies for out-of-pocket expenses, or coverage under programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.

• In many cases, in a single session you'll be able to receive an eligibility determination and enroll in a health insurance plan that's right for you or your family.

• You will also be able to update any changes that might affect your eligibility (including marriage, divorce or a job change) and to keep your coverage from year to year through the exchange.

How ObamaCare Assistance Works?

Now that we've answer, "How Does ObamaCare Work?", we'll talk about how you can get help paying forObamaCare. Check out our section on ObamaCare assistance for more information on the Cost of Obamacare.