I'm not trying to open this up for discussion, which is why it's in general, so keep that in mind.

Can someone explain to me what Obamacare does in full detail? I've got a question regarding how it works...

From what I understand, and please do correct me if I'm wrong, we all have to get some kind of health insurance now? There's no longer any choice?

How does that work if I'm unemployed and on disability from the VA and I don't actually have a primary-care-provider (health insurance)?

I really hope I didn't get screwed, but I'm thinking I did.

You're not required to have health care, the idea was to make health care affordable to everyone. So in that regard, you're not screwed.

I have no idea and from what i can tell people far more learned than i don't know either. Lets just hope to God that Romney can get rid of it,because im afraid if they don't were in all in a heap of shit.

Stolen from Reddit:

Okay, explained like you're a five year-old (well, okay, maybe a bit older), without too much oversimplification, and (hopefully) without sounding too biased:

What people call "Obamacare" is actually the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, people were calling it "Obamacare" before everyone even hammered out what it would be. It's a term mostly used by people who don't like the PPACA, and it's become popularized in part because PPACA is a really long and awkward name, even when you turn it into an acronym like that.

Anyway, the PPACA made a bunch of new rules regarding health care, with the purpose of making health care more affordable for everyone. Opponents of the PPACA, on the other hand, feel that the rules it makes take away too many freedoms and force people (both individuals and businesses) to do things they shouldn't have to.

So what does it do? Well, here is everything, in the order of when it goes into effect (because some of it happens later than other parts of it):

Already in effect:

It allows the Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs (making for more competition in the market to drive down prices)

It increases the rebates on drugs people get through Medicare (so drugs cost less)

It establishes a non-profit group, that the government doesn't directly control, [1] PCORI, to study different kinds of treatments to see what works better and is the best use of money. ( [2] Citation: Page 665, sec. 1181 )

It makes chain restaurants like McDonalds display how many calories are in all of their foods, so people can have an easier time making choices to eat healthy. ( [3] Citation: Page 499, sec. 4205 )

It makes a "high-risk pool" for people with pre-existing conditions. Basically, this is a way to slowly ease into getting rid of "pre-existing conditions" altogether. For now, people who already have health issues that would be considered "pre-existing conditions" can still get insurance, but at different rates than people without them.

It renews some old policies, and calls for the appointment of various positions.

It creates a new 10% tax on indoor tanning booths. ( [4] Citation: Page 923, sec. 5000B )

It says that health insurance companies can no longer tell customers that they won't get any more coverage because they have hit a "lifetime limit". Basically, if someone has paid for health insurance, that company can't tell that person that he's used that insurance too much throughout his life so they won't cover him any more. They can't do this for lifetime spending, and they're limited in how much they can do this for yearly spending. ( [5] Citation: Page 14, sec. 2711 )

Kids can continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance until they're 26.

No more "pre-existing conditions" for kids under the age of 19.

Insurers have less ability to change the amount customers have to pay for their plans.

People in a "Medicare Gap" get a rebate to make up for the extra money they would otherwise have to spend.

Insurers can't just drop customers once they get sick. ( [6] Citation: Page 14, sec. 2712 )

Insurers have to tell customers what they're spending money on. (Instead of just "administrative fee", they have to be more specific).

Insurers need to have an appeals process for when they turn down a claim, so customers have some manner of recourse other than a lawsuit when they're turned down.

New ways to stop fraud are created.

Medicare extends to smaller hospitals.

Medicare patients with chronic illnesses must be monitored more thoroughly.

Reduces the costs for some companies that handle benefits for the elderly.

A new website is made to give people insurance and health information. (I think this is it: [7] http://www.healthcare.gov/ ).

A credit program is made that will make it easier for business to invest in new ways to treat illness.

A limit is placed on just how much of a percentage of the money an insurer makes can be profit, to make sure they're not price-gouging customers.

A limit is placed on what type of insurance accounts can be used to pay for over-the-counter drugs without a prescription. Basically, your insurer isn't paying for the Aspirin you bought for that hangover.

Employers need to list the benefits they provided to employees on their tax forms.

8/1/2012

Any health plans sold after this date must provide preventative care (mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) without requiring any sort of co-pay or charge.

1/1/2013

If you make over $200,000 a year, your taxes go up a tiny bit (0.9%). Edit: To address those who take issue with the word "tiny", a change of 0.9% is relatively tiny. Any look at how taxes have fluctuated over the years will reveal that a change of less than one percent is miniscule, especially when we're talking about people in the top 5% of earners.

1/1/2014

This is when a lot of the really big changes happen.

No more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history.

If you can afford insurance but do not get it, you will be charged a fee. This is the "mandate" that people are talking about. Basically, it's a trade-off for the "pre-existing conditions" bit, saying that since insurers now have to cover you regardless of what you have, you can't just wait to buy insurance until you get sick. Otherwise no one would buy insurance until they needed it. You can opt not to get insurance, but you'll have to pay the fee instead, unless of course you're not buying insurance because you just can't afford it.

Insurers now can't do annual spending caps. Their customers can get as much health care in a given year as they need. ( [8] Citation: Page 14, sec. 2711 )

Make it so more poor people can get Medicaid by making the low-income cut-off higher.

Small businesses get some tax credits for two years.

Businesses with over 50 employees must offer health insurance to full-time employees, or pay a penalty.

Limits how high of an annual deductible insurers can charge customers.

Cut some Medicare spending

Place a $2500 limit on tax-free spending on FSAs (accounts for medical spending). Basically, people using these accounts now have to pay taxes on any money over $2500 they put into them.

Establish health insurance exchanges and rebates for the lower and middle-class, basically making it so they have an easier time getting affordable medical coverage.

Congress and Congressional staff will only be offered the same insurance offered to people in the insurance exchanges, rather than Federal Insurance. Basically, we won't be footing their health care bills any more than any other American citizen.

A new tax on pharmaceutical companies.

A new tax on the purchase of medical devices.

A new tax on insurance companies based on their market share. Basically, the more of the market they control, the more they'll get taxed.

The amount you can deduct from your taxes for medical expenses increases.

1/1/2015

Doctors' pay will be determined by the quality of their care, not how many people they treat. Edit: a_real_MD addresses questions regarding this one in far more detail and with far more expertise than I can offer in [9] this post. If you're looking for a more in-depth explanation of this one (as many of you are), I highly recommend you give his post a read.

1/1/2017

If any state can come up with their own plan, one which gives citizens the same level of care at the same price as the PPACA, they can ask the Secretary of Health and Human Resources for permission to do their plan instead of the PPACA. So if they can get the same results without, say, the mandate, they can be allowed to do so. Vermont, for example, has expressed a desire to just go straight to single-payer (in simple terms, everyone is covered, and medical expenses are paid by taxpayers).

2018

All health care plans must now cover preventative care (not just the new ones).

A new tax on "Cadillac" health care plans (more expensive plans for rich people who want fancier coverage).

2020

The elimination of the "Medicare gap"

.

Aaaaand that's it right there.

The biggest thing opponents of the bill have against it is the mandate. They claim that it forces people to buy insurance, and forcing people to buy something is unconstitutional. Personally, I take the opposite view, as it's not telling people to buy a specific thing, just to have a specific type of thing, just like a part of the money we pay in taxes pays for the police and firemen who protect us, this would have us paying to ensure doctors can treat us for illness and injury.

Plus, as previously mentioned, it's necessary if you're doing away with "pre-existing conditions" because otherwise no one would get insurance until they needed to use it, which defeats the purpose of insurance.

Whew! Hope that answers the question!

Yes you will be required to have health insurance or you will pay a fine that pays for it for you.This wasn't some magic AFRICAN AMERICAN bill that passed that is gonna all the sudden make health care cheaper.The tax payer is gonna flip the bill on this one.The law that the supreme court upheld today said that the fed cant require you to buy insurance,but they can fine you the cost of it if you don't get it.So six of one half dozen of another,you either get it on your own or they will fine you and get it for you.All hail the magic negro.

The way I read it, the penalty is a tax increase. So wouldn't that mean that the people that are abusing the welfare system ect ect. Would get less back on their taxes since they can't afford health care? As well as the people who just don't want to pay for health insurance -_-

Man i wish i knew.I do know one thing,this is bad.Today the supreme court basically said that the fed (in a back door sort of way) can force you to buy something or fine you.It doesn't matter if your a republican or democrat that is just wrong.The supreme court set a precedence with there ruling,now there will be no stopping the government on anything.

Headshot, I think the way you described it as a tax is how Canada's healthcare system works. I think for the US, we get fined monthly.

Interesting question:
Found this little part about the penalty:
individuals who fail to pay the penalty will not be subject to criminal penalties, liens, or levies

So what exactly CAN the IRS do to you besides withhold your refund? C

Don't know..

but for some withholding a refund is a lot...some people base their entire fiscal plans off their tax refund check.

Oh and for a tiny bit more indepth and better organised paragraph of Headshots:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Pr ... e_Care_Act

Oh and Acid...are you're completely dependent on Tricare you most likely will get less effected as Tricare is under different laws ....AFN ran commercials about it last time I was in the DEU. So even the hand rule of up to 26 years old wasn't applied to Tricare

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/ ... healthcare

That's the link that tells you everything. Here's the bullets points:

• Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men.
• Soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.
• Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies--including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.
• By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.
• 5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.
• Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.
• 6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family's plan until they're 26.

Also the list from reddit is outdated from what I can tell, the stuff from 2014 (big changes) are already in effect now with the Act going into place. Not 100% sure though, F*CKING politics.

Yeah Jet, I'm really curious as well.
Tazz, I'm not covered under Tricare because I opted out. I am not 100% disabled, therefore I must pay a premium for coverage each month. I've always taken the "I'll pay when I actually get sick and need care" route. Keep in mind that I don't mean healthcare, I mean physical care in general.

I am the same way with all my insurance companies. My car is liability only. I don't believe in paying an extra $2-3000 a year for "extra coverage" when I don't need it. If I get into an accident, I'll handle it then, and I don't mind paying the price for it.

As with Tricare or health concerns, I do not have, and have never payed for a healthcare plan. Normally, if I ever go to the hospital (which has been about once in the past four years) I pay for the care out of my pocket. I don't mind doing this, since I never go for anything serious, and if it were serious, I'm not going to go crazy about having to pay more for it because I wasn't covered by some healthcare program or crazy insurance company who really doesn't care about my health, but instead the money in my wallet.

I don't want to be forced to buy any type of health insurance plan, and in the meantime I don't want to be punished because there are assholes who will take advantage of the system. Why do I have to be treated like the bad guy? I've always played by the rules, filed my taxes honestly, applied for benefits when I met the pre-requisites, but somehow this affects me very poorly. I'm curious to know exactly what the wages would be should I choose to remain uninsured. In a worst-case-scenario, I'd have my wife add me to her insurance... but it's not something I really want to do -- not because I'm hard-headed, but because it's just how I've adapted. I'm completely out of debt, and I don't like the fact that in case I don't get healthcare I'll end up owing the government and I'd be subject to these little "what-if" taxes from this new plan, or whatever you'd like to call it.

So is that little section the main problem with the act? Everything else looks ok, I pretty much understand the future implications with allowing that section within the bill but the rest looks positive..at least to me

Yeah, the only problem I'm seeing is that the the only negative aspect about it really outweighs the positive for me. I mean... I'm really happy for everybody else who have jobs and what-not, but I'm a full-time college student... so I don't really get that opportunity. I absolutely do not make enough money to afford healthcare, especially when 4/5ths of my monthly income goes straight to child support because they won't re-evaluate my case. The state of Florida still think I make over $2000 a month, and it's almost been a complete year since I've been out.

i have a copy of the 2,454 page bill if anyone wants to read through it.

if you do read it, please tell me how long it takes you to finish it, because they gave the american people and members of congress only 24 hours to read it before they voted on it. please tell me how anyone could have known all the provisions littered throughout it.

I'm going to go out on a limb and the ones that were diligent enough had their staff split it up amongst them and read it and paraphrased it.

though yeah, some had to basically go in to the vote blind.

Basically the "fine" insures that the insurance companies still make money and helps with the pay for doctors. In a sense it's like paying taxes for police officers and fireman, which I'm fine with. Is it so bad that everyone can afford coverage now? I don't understand the backlash.

Someone listened to Neal Boorz today.

Acid, wtf is wrong with your driving record? I pay 680/yr for everything. I get that you dont want to be forced to pay anything, but this bill is kind of written to help people in your exact situation afford insurance. With lower income persons having insurance, it actually helps people that already have insurance. People in your situation who get sick and die, or are unable to work again(or are lazy AFRICAN AMERICANS) to pay off inccured debt to the hospital/doctors are part of the reason a trip to the hospital is so expensive to begin with. They have insurance for writing off bad debt, but doctors have premiums too. Aside from the previous mentioned infringement on personal liberties, I think this bill is pretty solid. It helps people on hard times recieve insurance, makes lazy black fucks contribute something to society with a fine, and lowers bills for people with insurance/medications. That's how it should work in theory. Too bad the application of the bill will get fucked and fisted in every concievable loophole before it can do any good.

^This.

The thing about the fine (which is lame as F*CK) is that it makes sure the insurance companies still make money. Without that fine in place, people can just buy the insurance only when they get sick, and then cancel it when they're better. Basically with that fine in place it does two things-

1. Ensures that the lazy fucks contribute to society.

2. Keeps the insurance companies from tanking, which would F*CK our economy even harder.