FAQ: Obamacare

FAQ:  Obamacare

Q:  What is Obamacare?

A:  Obamacare is a presidential response to America’s gap in insurance coverage for American citizens.  The act is officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The program is designed to combat the rising cost of healthcare while increasing the amount of Americans covered by health insurance.

Q:  Will I Be Forced to Accept Obamacare?

A:  If you have private health insurance, the answer is your insurance plan will probably not change.  For people who have pre-existing conditions (people with cancer, diabetes, blood disorders) and suffer without health insurance, private companies will no longer be able to deny them access to healthcare.

Q:  What are the News Requirements for Acceptable Level of Care in Insurance Plans?

A:  All Obamacare insurances will require coverage of:

• Ambulatory patient services.
• Emergency services.
• Hospitalization.
• Maternity and newborn care.
• Mental health and treatment of substance abuse disorders, including behavioral health treatment.
• Prescription drugs.
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices.
• Laboratory services.
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

Q: Is the Obamacare Health Insurance Exchange A Bad Thing?

A:  29 million Americans will find health insurance by the year 2019.  The reduction of uninsured Americans is calculated to increase overall health of the nation, decrease spread of illness, decrease costs to hospital emergency rooms and therefore, save private and public hospitals trillions of dollars which will be passed on to patients.

Q:  Will I be penalized for not carrying an insurance plan?

A:  Yes.  Beginning in 2014, a yearly penalty for each uninsured member of a household will go into effect.  The penalty will increase percentage-wise for each contiguous year without healthcare coverage.

Q: Are There Exceptions To Being Penalized?

A:  Yes.  Exceptions are called exemptions.  By 2016, over 28 million Americans will still be without health insurance.  If any of these Americans cannot find an insurance plan that costs them less than 8% of total household income, they will be exempt and may qualify for traditional Medicaid.

Those who do not file tax returns or have dangerous low incomes will also be exempt.  Anyone uninsured for three months or less is exempt from penalties.  Illegal immigrants, people in jail, Native Americans, and various religious groups also have exemptions.

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