What Obamacare Means for You
Photo: 401K 2012, Flickr
It’s been about three years in the making, and today, President Obama’s hotly anticipated Affordable Healthcare for America Act (aka Obamacare) was upheld by the Supreme Court. Now, tens of millions of Americans without health insurance are expected to have better access to medical care.
So what does this landmark decision mean for you (and your significant other)? Here are some of the ways Obama’s Healthcare Act may affect you:
1. You’re entitled to health insurance without a rate increase – even if you’re preggers: Well, technically this rule applies to all pre-existing conditions. Pregnancy is one, but other conditions that qualify you as a high-risk patient include high blood pressure, asthma and even cancer. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that between 50 and 129 million Americans have a pre-existing condition that would qualify them as high-risk.
2. Your employer has to provide you health insurance – or the company will pay: If your company has an annual payroll of $500K or more, they’re required to pay a surtax of 8% per employee if they don’t offer health insurance.
3. You have to have health insurance — or you will pay: If you don’t have health insurance and neglect to purchase it, you’ll pay a penalty.
4. Don’t worry: The government will help you afford to buy health insurance: Low-income citizens — depending on how close you are to the poverty level — will be entitled to affordability subsidies and lower premiums.
5. Doctors will be rewarded for their results: No longer will doctors get paid based on how many tests they perform, but instead, how many patients whose conditions they improve. So we, as patients, stand to have healthier minds, bodies and bank accounts.
What are your thoughts on Obamacare?
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This is so incredibly biased and not at all comprehensive of what it really means for people. Doctors will be forced out of work, people will get lower-quality care and the government will have even more control over our lives. I’ll never read The Nest again.
I can’t believe I have to have health insurance. This is beyond everything. What exactly is there that the government cannot force upon us? Car insurance is one thing. Driving is a privilege, therefore, they can attach rules to that privilege. Living is my right. Yet, now I have to pay the government if I choose not to have health insurance? “It’s for your own good”? Really? This is how you’re swinging it? I didn’t realize this site had a political agenda–until today. Give me the facts, not your personal opnion.
Thank you, Becka–I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds this absurd.
Not only do I have the federal government telling me I have to pay a penalty “for my own good,” but now this stupid website is telling me it’s “for my own good” as well? Wow, apparently I’m so incapable of taking care of my own needs that I need the feds AND a bunch of web bloggers looking out for me. Thank goodness they’re here!
Nest, why don’t you stick to finding pictures of nicely-coordinated curtains and stop looking out for my health? When I need to decide between iced blue and snowcone sugar paint colors, I’ll ask you. Otherwise, stick to the superficial stuff you excel at and stop trying to “take care” of my needs.
Hm.. To be obliged to pay for health insurance is sort of Prime Law violation! How about that? Now I need to pay a penalty? Great! Thank you Obama! I voted for you..
“What are your thoughts on Obamacare?” Let’s see: The government has overstepped its bounds (tax me for NOT buying a product?). A new wave of taxes that Congress can add, since anything with a penalty is considered “a tax” and is legal for Congress to enact, according to the SCOTUS. What about large sodas (like New York) or even “not eating enough broccoli.” The exact demographic that is supposed to be served (McDonalds workers) are those that are being given exemptions by the POTUS; what is “the right thing to do” about that?
Super biased article. Plus, it’s not a penalty – it’s a tax. Imposing a tax on what you choose not to do/have is like the government mandating that everyone has to go to the movie theaters on Friday night (where you get taxed on food, drink, and movie tickets), and if you choose not to go to the movie theater on Friday night, then you get taxed anyway. It’s ridiculous how greedy our government has gotten.
I agree, Stevens–the piece is not very comprehensive. But biased? I think not. It presents factual information about the law. Perhaps you’re upset because it doesn’t reflect your viewpoint, which is obviously anti-Obamacare. It’s interesting to note, however, that you provide no explanation of or back-up for the broad claims you made in your comment.
Becka, I don’t think your driving analogy holds up. For one, driving is a necessity for millions of people, so it’s not just a priviledge. Living is a right, as you say, and it would seem that a natural extension of that statement is the right to affordable, quality healthcare. The law does not take away your right to live; it extends the ability of millions of citizens to enhance their quality of life. A perfect law? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s a start at least. Let’s give it a shot and fix what doesn’t work as we go along.