What is "ObamaCare"?
- Nov 6, 2014
- 1 min read
The United States has a healthcare system that combines both public and private contributions. Publicly financed programs include Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veteran's Administration; however, about half of health services are provided by the private sector. More than 15 percent of Americans are not covered by insurance. In a major overhaul since the 1980s, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), widely known as ObamaCare, was signed into law by President Obama in 2010. This act aims to reform the health insurance industry and the U.S. healthcare system. It contains many provisions that expand access to affordable quality healthcare, especially to those that are uninsured. By this year (2014), the law requires that all citizens must have health insurance, or pay a monthly fee for each month without insurance coverage. Americans can still obtain insurance as they always have (private, employer-based, or Medicare/Medicaid). ACA adds a new way to buy insurance: State Health Insurance Marketplaces sell insurance plans and provide cost assistance. Each insurance type in this market place has its own open enrollment period. Open enrollment for 2014 has been closed, and enrollment for 2015 starts in November 15, 2014.
The following video summarizes ObamaCare and why our healthcare is changing. The link below is a pros-cons list from a private, non-partisan website dedicated to laying out the facts of ObamaCare.
Sources: http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-pros-and-cons/ Video: Kaiser Family Foundation
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