The health care reform bill was signed into law by President Obama in March of 2010. The Affordable Care Act (it's official name) was the subject of much controversy and debate, and the provisions of the massive bill continue to be a source of confusion for many Americans. Many people aren't sure of the most basic question: Does health care reform leave them better or worse off than before?
Take our short quiz to see how savvy you are about health care reform.
Which of the following is NOT true about the Affordable Care Act of 2010?
d) Early retirees will be hit with higher costs and less choices by the new law.
That's not true. In fact, health care reform is designed to make reinsurance more affordable and easier for early retirees. The other three choices are documented features of the act.
Which federal agency will be responsible for enforcing a provision that requires Americans to purchase health insurance?
b) Internal Revenue Service
Under the new law, the IRS will be tasked with making sure Americans are ponying up for insurance ... just like they do with our taxes.
True or false? Thanks to health care reform, an estimated 32 million more people will have health insurance by 2019.
a) True
According to government estimates, an additional 32 million Americans will have health insurance by 2019 as a result of health care reform.
According to the Assisted Living Federation of America, which of the following will health care reform accomplish?
d) All of the above
All of the answers were highlighted as benefits of the health care reform bill at the 2010 Assisted Living Federation of America conference in Phoenix.
True or False? When health care reform kicks in, people may have longer waits to see a primary care doctor.
True.
Since millions of more people will get health insurance over the next two decades, it's possible that wait times to see a doctor will increase, particularly since the US is facing a shortage of primary care physicians.
It's estimated that health care reform will help provide coverage for how many women who are currently uninsured or under-insured?
d) 30 million.
According to a prominent non-profit group, the new law will allow about 15 million currently uninsured women to get health insurance, and strengthen coverage for an additional 15 million underinsured women.
True or False? The new law expands Medicare benefits by allowing annual wellness checkups and eliminating co-payments for preventive screenings.
a) True.
According to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, health care reform will expand Medicare benefits by allowing a number of additional services for seniors.
In Medicare and health care terminology, the "doughnut hole" refers to:
a) The nickname for a big gap in seniors' Medicare prescription coverage.
For many years, "donut hole" has been the nickname of a big gap in seniors' prescription coverage. The Affordable Care Act contains provisions to close that gap.
