According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, under the provisions of the Accountable Care Act some 32 million more Americans will acquire health coverage by 2019.
• Minimum Medicaid eligibility will expand to 133 percent of the poverty level, increasing the rolls by an estimated 19 million people (current Medicaid enrollment is 47 million).
• Persons with incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty level will receive subsidies (on a sliding scale) to purchase health insurance; for example, a family of four earning 150 percent of the poverty level will pay 2 percent of income or $50 per month for coverage.
• Adults age 26 and younger are now eligible for coverage under parents’ policies.
• Insurers will no longer be permitted to use pre-existing medical conditions as grounds either to refuse coverage or to charge higher premiums.
• Smaller employers will receive tax credits of up to 50 percent of their costs for employee health insurance coverage, and very small employers will be eligible for direct subsidies.
• Larger employers will pay a fine when their employees receive government subsidized health coverage.
• Persons with wherewithal and opportunity who neglect to secure minimum health coverage will pay a penalty.