Health Reform

Quick Summary

 * Health reform was signed into law in March 2010. Different portions go into effect at different times over the next few years.
 * Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly supported the reform efforts; Republicans universally opposed it.
 * Health reform reduces the deficit and costs less than the previously existing system.

Major Benefits of Health Reform

 * Insurance companies can't drop your coverage if you get sick or injured or refuse to insure you based on pre-existing conditions.
 * Limits on coverage are either reduced or banned depending on the condition.
 * Small businesses receive extra federal assistance in providing medical care for employees.
 * Medicare incentive programs are established to improve patient care quality.
 * Medicaid rebates increase. Medicare drug discounts increase and its "donut hole" closes.
 * Insurance exchanges will open to allow individuals and businesses to purchase insurance at reduced cost.
 * Co-pays for preventive services will be eliminated.
 * Consumers must be allowed to appeal insurers' decisions on their coverage.
 * Uniform standards for electronic health records will be established and implemented.
 * Compared to previously existing legislation, the bill reduces the deficit by over $1 trillion during the next two decades.

Costs and Savings

 * Obamacare expands Medicaid, but 14 Republican governors and Republican-controlled legislatures have said their states will not join in the expansion.  This insures 3.6 million fewer Americans, these states would forfeit $8.4 billion, and spending on uncompensated care increases by $1 billion by 2016.
 * The Government Accountability Office reports that national debt will skyrocket if Obamacare is not implemented.

Futile Repeal Efforts

 * Republicans in the U.S. House continuously attempt to repeal Obamacare.  As of August 2013, they had voted to repeal it 40 times, even though the repeal would never pass in the Senate, nor would President Obama sign such a repeal.  In other words, Republicans are wasting time to score political points with their rabid base.

Misinformation
{C}The Kaiser Family Foundation released a poll in early February 2011 regarding Americans' knowledge and awareness of what health reform includes. Of ten questions, one-third of respondents failed to reach a correct score of 50%. Results show people more informed about the bill do, in fact, support the bill more and favor full repeal less.

Conservative Responses
Governor Rick Perry of Texas has threatened to secede from the United States because of Obamacare but in 2013 was in negotiations to receive $100 million in funding for it.

Important Links
Health Insurance Guide

Consumer Reports' page on reform; includes timelines, basic information, and scenarios for what to do in a variety of situations.

CNN Timeline: When health care will affect you Timeline of when major provisions of the bill go into effect.

Health Care Reform in the United States Relatively detailed Wikipedia article regrading the reform.

Health Insurance Reform Reality Check Official White House page refuting lies and distortions made about reform.

State by state positions on the "Obamacare" Medicaid expansion

Interactive map with information about individual states' decisions on whether or not to participate in the "Obamacare" Medicaid expansion.