On May 16, 2013, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted for the 37th time since January 2011 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). This party line vote will be ignored by the Senate and the President and has no chance of becoming law.
Over the last three years, much misinformation has been circulated on the requirements and impacts of this health care law. The Obama administration has a new website designed to answer questions and point citizens (because you MUST be a citizen or a legal alien to qualify) to the healthcare options that best fits your needs.
Just a note about the Obamacare requirement for citizenship for insurance. Obama sought to clear up confusion and address many misleading statements about his health care proposals in a 2009 speech before a joint session of Congress.
“Now, there are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false,” Obama said. “The reforms I am proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.”
At that moment in Obama’s speech, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted, “You lie.” Unfortunately, people remember Wilson’s shout, but they don’t remember that Obama told the truth: illegal immigrants are NOT covered under the law.
The Healthcare website will help you determine what your insurance options are. It also provides a listing of the key features of the law and state by state information and impacts. The law means anyone eligible can get insurance, regardless of their health history; that small businesses are eligible for tax credits; that the Medicaid program will expand; or that uninsured Americans will be able to get financial help buying health plans.
The website has informative videos and is worth the visit, particularly, if you are looking for a health insurer or ways to reduce your health care cost.