CBO Report on Bipartisan ObamaCare Fix
The CBO says the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017 would cut the deficit by $3.8 billion over ten years and would not substantially change uninsured rates.
ObamaCare: Everything You Need to Know About the ACA
What is ObamaCare? Understanding The Affordable Care Act (ACA) “ObamaCare” is a nickname for the healthcare law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). The law is often called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for short. Many people are aware of the basics of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They are aware… Read More
Cutting CSR Likely Means Cheaper Bronze, Gold, and Platinum Plans
Trump’s move to cut Cost-Sharing Reduction assistance will likely result in lower premiums for those who qualify for Premium Tax Credits on Bronze, Gold, and Platinum plans.
How are Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Different?
What is the Difference Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans? We compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage to help you better understand the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage are Federally regulated and ACA-compliant, but the fact that aspects of Medicare are privatized means there are significant… Read More
Why Networks and Drug Formularies in Medicare Plans are Important
Why do I Need to Know Which Drugs are Preferred in my Insurance Formulary or Which Physicians are In Network? We ask what drug formularies and preferred providers are and why you need to consider them when choosing a Medicare plan or any health insurance policy. Every insurance plan has a list of which drugs… Read More
Short-Term and Major Medical Health Insurance
Short Term Coverage Vs. Major Medical Coverage Short term and major medical insurance plans both provide coverage in case of a medical catastrophe, but they have significant differences. Short-term plans are typically used to fill in the gaps between major medical coverage. They act as a temporary coverage and often offer lower premiums for less… Read More
Trump Just Made Health Insurance Cheaper! (Opinions)
Trump likely just made health insurance cheaper for some with his executive order on association plans and short term insurance. We look at the pros and cons.
5 Steps to Getting Medical Insurance You Can Afford
We cover 5 steps to take to get the best medical insurance you can afford so you can get the best deal on health insurance available to you.
Trump Cuts Cost-Sharing Reduction Assistance
The White House announced that the Trump administration will no longer reimburse insurers for ObamaCare’s cost-sharing reduction subsidies.
ObamaCare Facts Archive
The facts below are our original “ObamaCare facts” page. These ObamaCare facts will give you a sense of how things used to be and what has changed. See our up-to-date “ObamaCare” facts page here. It is easy to forget that time when women paid more than men for health insurance, or when you could be denied… Read More
How to Use HealthCare.Gov
How Do I Use Healthcare.gov to Sign Up, Shop For Plans, Get Assistance, and Enroll in Health Insurance? We explain how to use the official Health Insurance Marketplace HealthCare.Gov to sign up, shop for coverage, get assistance, and enroll in a health plan. First, to get started, you will need to go to HealthCare.Gov and select your state… Read More
Get Covered During Open Enrollment
Everything You Need to Know About Open Enrollment Get covered during open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Open enrollment starts Nov 1st and ends Dec 15th in most states. Unless you have access to coverage through work, Medicare, or another source, open enrollment is the only time of year you and your family can… Read More
2018 Premium Tax Credits
2018 Premium Tax Credits Under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) We explain how Premium Tax Credits work on 2018 health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Tax credits can be taken in advance, or at tax time. In other words, ObamaCare’s Premium Tax Credits (PTC) can be paid to your insurer in advance as… Read More
HSA Limits for 2018
Health Saving Accounts and ObamaCare for 2018 We cover everything you need to know about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for 2018, including how HSAs work with health plans under the Affordable Care Act. TIP: The Affordable Care Act is sometimes called “ObamaCare” or the “ACA” for short. Thus, this page is about HSAs and how… Read More
2018 Cost Sharing Reduction Subsidies (CSR)
How Do Cost Sharing Reduction Subsidies Work? ObamaCare’s Cost Sharing Reduction Subsidies (CSR) lower out-of-pocket costs, based on income, for Silver plans bought on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Please note that CSR subsidies are paid to insurance companies, not to individuals. They are intended to offset the expenses of offering lower-cost health insurance to qualifying individuals. Eliminating… Read More
Get Ready for 2018 Open Enrollment
ObamaCare’s open enrollment period for 2018 starts on November 1st, 2017 and ends on December 15th, 2017. This is what you need to know to enroll for 2018. Some states have longer enrollment periods, so you will have to check your state’s rules. • Open enrollment is the only time you can get cost assistance, enroll… Read More
Graham-Cassidy Could Result in 32 Million Uninsured and Higher Costs
The Cassidy-Graham bill has been estimated by studies to result in 32 million uninsured by 2027 and beyond and higher costs for many sick, poor, and seniors.
A Summary of the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare Repeal Bill
We explain the gist of the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill. In short, it looks a lot like the last repeal attempt, the Better Care Reconciliation Act.
The 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines
Understanding the 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines For Cost Assistance Under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) in 2018 and 2019 We explain the 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines for assistance under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). You’ll use these guidelines to determine cost assistance on plans sold during 2019’s open enrollment season. How Cost Assistance Works With… Read More
Bernie Sanders: Medicare-for-all Act Full Text and Summary
An Introduction to Bernie’s Medicare-for-all Bill, a Summary, and a Link to the Full Bill We present the full text and a summary of Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for all bill (“A BILL To establish a Medicare-for-all national health insurance program”). Read the full text of Sanders’ Medicare for All Act of 2017 (S. 1804). Background: On September 13, 2017… Read More
Bernie Sanders Introduces Medicare for All Act of 2017
We explain the basics of the Bernie Sanders Medicare-for-all bill, a bill to expand universal coverage to all Americans by expanding Medicare.
Why Isn’t Health Insurance or Care Affordable?
We look at the Affordable Care Act, asking why many people’s medical insurance or care is unaffordable.
ObamaCare and DACA Facts and Myths
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are not eligible for ObamaCare, don’t have to comply with the mandates, can’t use the marketplace, and can’t get cost assistance.
CBO Report on the Effects of Terminating Payments for Cost-Sharing Reductions
We explain the August 15, 2017 CBO and JCT report on the effects of ending cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers.
Trump’s Potential Obstruction of ObamaCare Explained
We explain how Trump can obstruct ObamaCare by “blocking insurer bailouts” (by not reimbursing insurers for cost sharing assistance.)