The Impact

What the health care law means for you

President Obama's reelection secured the Affordable Care Act's future, with insurance changes that stand to impact millions of Americans. Beginning in 2014, virtually all Americans will have to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. There also will be new opportunities to get coverage, including state-based marketplaces known as exchanges* (through which individuals will be able to purchase private plans that meet strict benchmarks for quality) and federal subsidies to help low-income people buy plans on the exchanges. The law will also expand the eligibility rules for Medicaid, but in its June ruling, the Supreme Court found that states can not be penalized if they decline to comply with the expansion. That has lead at least a half dozen states to declare they will not participate in that part of the law.

Answer the questions below to see how your coverage might be affected.

Your coverage:

1. Do you have health

Yes No


Are you under 26 years old?

Yes No

2. How many people are in
     your household?









3. What is your adjusted
     gross household income?


4. What is your
     marital status?

Complete the questions
above to see results

*The theory is that the exchanges could also help lower premiums by pooling many people in one marketplace and fostering competition among insurers.

GRAPHIC: Wilson Andrews, Karen Yourish and N.C. Aizenman - The Washington Post. Published March 21, 2010. Updated June 28, 2012.