The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law March 23, 2010.
This historic law:
- Expands access to health insurance coverage for most Americans
- Provides financial help to low-income individuals & families
- Sliding-scale tax credits for premium and co-pays available to individuals and families with incomes between 133-400% of the Federal Poverty Level
Click here for a helpful subsidy calculator see from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
- Sliding-scale tax credits for premium and co-pays available to individuals and families with incomes between 133-400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Caps annual out-of-pocket spending for individuals and families
finally, an end to medical bankruptcy in America! - Strengthens Medicare benefits
- Ends Medicare Part D Rx Drug “Doughnut-hole”
- Now covers annual wellness visits, personalized prevention plans with no co-pays for preventive services
- Expands Medicaid eligibility to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Covers childless adults ($29,326 for a family of 4 – other sizes)
- Cost of increase to States covered by Federal dollars for those newly eligible
- 100% of the cost the first 3 years, 90% by 2020 and beyond
- 26 states + DC moving forward with expansion, 25 states not moving forward at this time – map with list
- Provides Small Business Tax Credits to Help Cover Employees
- Businesses with ≤25 employees, average wage <$50,000
- Tax credits up to 35% of employer’s contribution to premium in 2010, goes up to 50% by 2014
- Increases Regulation of Private Health Insurance Companies
- Creates Policies that Encourage Wellness – Requires Full Coverage for Preventive Services
- All new group and individual plans must eliminate co-pays and deductibles for preventative care
- Ends “Pre-existing Condition” Denials – eliminated for children on 9/23/10, for adults in 2014
- Prohibits Caps on Coverage Benefits – lifetime caps on benefits eliminated 9/23/10, annual caps end in 2014
- Allows Young Adults to Stay on Parent Policies Until Age 26
- Prevents Coverage Rescissions
- Sets Medical Loss Ratios: 80-85% of premiums on “real” health care
- Prohibits charging higher premiums based on health status or gender
- Premiums only allowed to vary for age by no more than 3 to 1,
smokers by no more than 1.5 to 1
- Creates Policies that Encourage Wellness – Requires Full Coverage for Preventive Services
- Creates State-based Health Insurance Marketplaces
- Online competitive place for small businesses & individuals without insurance, with no employer sponsored insurance
- Requires Members of Congress and their staff to obtain health insurance through their State-based Health Insurance Marketplaces
- Enrollment Period Opened Oct. 1, 2013 – visit www.HealthCare.gov
- New Resources from Consumer Reports
- Health Law Helper – an informational tool designed for individual consumers (Spanish language version)
- Documents you will need to apply
- 1040 Form worksheet
- Establishes Personal Responsibility to Purchase Health Insurance
- Applies U.S. citizens and legal immigrants
- Exemptions for religious objection, American Indians, those without coverage < 3 months, undocumented immigrants, incarcerated individuals, lowest cost plan is >8% of income, or income below tax filing threshold
- Penalty total is the greater of:
- in 2014 = $95 or 1% taxable income
- in 2015 = $325 or 2% taxable income
- in 2016 = $695 or 2.5% taxable income
- What if you don’t have coverage in 2014? – info link
For more information on benefits and consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act visit www.HealthCare.gov
Scroll down for additional resources
- Consumer Reports Guides: Medicare: 6 Things to Know Know
Health Reform: 7 Things You Need to Know to be Ready - What the Health Care Law Means for Women – updated brochure with non-partisan, fact-based information from NPA & the National Women’s Law Center
- Visit Understanding the ACA for additional information and resources from NPA
- To download free waiting room posters and handouts, click here
- To download free waiting room posters and handouts, click here
- “ObamaCare Answers“
A New Short Video from NPA & Americans United for Change

Barbara Meier schreibt seit vielen Jahren für die NPAlliance Ratgeber und Testberichte. Dabei legt sie großen Wert auf die Ausführlichkeit sowie Richtigkeit ihrer Artikel. Sie zählt zu den wenigen Experten in ihrem Gebiet und hat sich über die letzten Jahren einen Namen in der Gesundheitsbranche gemacht.