Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would reform the health insurance system and expand coverage to 30 million previously uninsured Americans by:

• Establishing state-based health insurance marketplaces called the American Health Benefit Exchanges and Small Business Health Options Program where individuals and small businesses could choose from different benefit plans. The Office of Personnel Management would offer at least two plans in each Exchange, available nationwide, promoting competition in the health insurance market.[1]
• Expanding Medicaid to previous ineligible childless adults up to 133% of the federal poverty level.[2]
• Mandating that individuals have health insurance, and providing subsidies to individuals and families up to 400% of the federal poverty level.[3]
• Providing small businesses with tax credits to help them pay for employee health insurance.[4]
• Prohibiting the health insurance industry from denying or rescinding coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Moreover, health insurance companies could not vary premiums based on gender and variation based on age would be limited.[5]
• Extending funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program for two years, until 2015.[6]

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Legend

= vote to fight poverty = vote against fighting poverty = no vote