Even if you are not paying attention to what is exactly going on with the Health Care Reform (ACA or Obamacare or whatever you want to call), it WILL affect you—one way or the other. If you are not enrolled in any of the plans by MARCH 31, 2014, you will have to pay a PENALTY, which increases significantly in 2015 and later. The penalty is 1% of  your income in 2014, 2% in 2015 and 2.5% in 2016 and thereafter.

One of the big changes brought about by the ACA—and affects a lot of immigrants—is the expansion of Medicaid. About half of states (those controlled mostly by democrats) have expanded Medicaid while others have refused. There are a couple of states that are still considering expanding Medicaid. Pennsylvania, for example, is still considering the expansion. Regardless of whether a state has expanded its Medicaid program or not, you MUST have some kind of coverage by March 31, 2014.

I will put the income and eligibility chart at the bottom of this post to help you determine if you qualify for Medicaid (including the expanded elligibility) or not.

So what you need to do:

If you are going to maintain coverage through your employer, are currently enrolled in Medicaid (with no significant change in income next year), or have some other means of coverage that is going to continue into next year, you do not need to do anything

 If you do not have health insurance now, and qualify for expanded Medicaid (not all states have expanded eligibility for Medicaid), based on the chart below, you need to apply for Medicaid—through State website or by visiting the nearest county offices.

If you are outside the Medicaid income eligibility and do not have the coverage through the employer, you need to think about getting a plan from the Health Insurance Exchange (from state site or federal depending upon the state) to see what option best fits your needs. You need to enroll by March 31, 2014 to not incur any penalty.

By no means, this is the the only change under Obamacare. This is just one change that impacts a lot of people, including a lot of immigrants. For example, there are a whole host of issues for small businesses to consider under the reform.

Medicaid Elligibility Chart

In 2014, here is what your premiums/penalty will look like if you buy insurance through exchange. Just to give you an idea, this is for 30-year old couple whose employer do not provide any coverage. As you can see, the penalty you will pay is not that different from the premiums you pay for the cheapest plan available. So, it is better to get some kind of coverage. Of course, this only applies to this particular 30-year old couple, and it will be different amounts for other cases.

Bronze plan is the cheapest plan you will see in the exchanges. What this plan mean is that 60% of the total actuarial value of this plan is paid by the insurer and 40% paid by you--in the form of co-pays, coinsurance etc. You will still get free preventative services and other "essential benefits."