What does the health care bill mean to me?

What does the health care bill mean to me?

For me, and others who have no income:

Beginning no later than 2014, you will be eligible for Medicaid. The health bill expands Medicaid to all individuals and families with income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Depending on where you live, people with higher incomes may also be eligible.

In Massachusetts, there is free health insurance through a program called MassHealth. It is one of the reasons I chose to move to Mass. I have gotten excellent health care for the past year, and gotten every issue I had a complaint about taken care of.

For a single person with no health insurance with a $20,000 income:

Beginning in 2014, you will receive tax credits to help afford insurance premiums in the new exchanges as well as assistance with deductibles and co-payments. According to your income and family size, the tax credits will ensure you do not spend more than $800 to $1260 on premiums. Your maximum out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and co-payments would be capped at 15% of the total cost.

For a family of three, with insurance through employers, and a combined income of $70,000:

Beginning in 2014, you will receive tax credits to help afford insurance premiums in the new exchanges as well as assistance with deductibles and co-payments. According to your income and family size, the tax credits will ensure you do not spend more than $800 to $1260 on premiums. Your maximum out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and co-payments would be capped at 15% of the total cost.

For a single person on Medicare, with an income of $10,000:

The Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole will gradually narrow every year until it is eliminated entirely by 2020. In the meantime, if your drug expenses cause you to fall into the doughnut hole, you will receive a 50 percent discount on all brand-name drugs.