Under the new health care reform law, by 2014, individuals and families—including
people with special health care needs and pre-existing conditions, low-income childless
adults, seniors, young adults and self-employed individuals—will have guaranteed
access to affordable, quality coverage.
In 2014, more than 1.5 million people in Illinois who are currently uninsured will
have access to insurance through private coverage or Medicaid. Individuals will
be able to obtain quality health insurance from a central clearinghouse of insurance
companies called an “American Health Benefit Exchange.” The Exchange will be a place
to easily compare health plan options, determine eligibility for tax credits (based
on a sliding fee according to income) and purchase and enroll in private or public
health insurance. Additionally, as of September 23, 2010, all Illinois residents
are covered by a “Patient’s Bill of Rights,” which puts an end to some of the most
extreme insurance abuses and puts consumers more in control of their health care.
Have a question about the new health law? Want to see how the Affordable Care Act
is affecting others in your situation or find a reputable resource for more information?
Illinois Health Matters is here to help.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Q Who will the Affordable Care Act benefit, anyway? Don’t most people have health insurance?
A According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 49.9 million people were uninsured in 2010, about 16.3% of the population.
The Census Bureau collects its information based on interviews conducted by the government every March as part of the Current Population Survey. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, nine in ten of the uninsured are in low- or moderate-income families, meaning they are below 400% of the federal poverty level.
Many of the people without health insurance cannot afford to purchase individual coverage due to the high cost of premiums. Others may be barred from purchasing insurance due to a pre-existing condition. Being low income does not qualify someone for public benefits in Illinois and most other states, so going uninsured is often the only option.
The Affordable Care Act will allow many people currently without insurance to obtain health coverage. Starting in 2014, Medicaid will expand to cover all Americans below 138% of the federal poverty level. Those without coverage who are between 138-400% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for tax credits to use towards purchasing insurance in the statewide health insurance exchanges.
Historically, young adults make up a disproportionate share of the uninsured. Those aged 19 to 29 make up 29% of the uninsured and have the highest uninsured rate of any age group. Young adults are for the most part neither full-time students nor full-time employees, meaning they likely do not get coverage from their school or employer. Many are unwilling or unable to pay the high premium costs of private insurance. The Affordable Care Act already allows young adults to remain covered by a parent’s private insurance plan until age 26, and when the Medicaid expansion and the Health Benefit Exchanges are put into place, many more will gain new access to coverage.
An estimated 11 million of those without health insurance are undocumented immigrants, but the exact number is not known. Neither the health benefits exchanges nor the Medicaid expansions will provide health insurance to undocumented non-citizens.
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Do you have questions about issues like how health care reform impacts people with
disabilities or children with pre-existing conditions? Learn from the experiences
of others—or, submit your question here.
Individual & Family Resources
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Women and Obamacare: What’s at Stake for Women if the Supreme Court Strikes Down the Affordable Care Act?
Center for American Progress's report on how the Affordable Care Act benefits women and what it would mean for millions of women and their families if the Supreme Court
struck down the Supreme Court finds the law unconstitutional.
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How Much Do You Know About The Uninsured? Take Our New Quiz
In order to foster greater understanding of the nature of the problem, the Kaiser Family Foundation has created an Uninsured Quiz to help people gauge how much they know about the uninsured population and the consequences of not having health coverage.
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GAO: Estimates of Individuals with Pre-Existing Conditions Range from 36 Million to 122 Million
The U.S. Government Accountability Office's study on adults with pre-existing conditions in the U.S. :
"Individuals who buy coverage directly from a health insurer are often denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition during a process called medical underwriting, which assesses an applicant’s health status and other risk factors. Beginning January 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) prohibits health insurers in the individual market from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or restricting benefits because of a pre-existing condition. GAO was asked to examine the effect of this provision on adults who are 19-64 years old."
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