In our last post, we looked at those who have been negatively affected by the Affordable Care Act. In this post, we will continue to explore the so-called “losers” of the health law.
- People with incomes under 100% of the poverty line living in states that didn’t expand Medicaid. Twenty-five states didn’t expand Medicaid under the ACA. The result? More than one-third of their lowest-income residents remaining uninsured-a rate that hasn’t changed from last year (even as millions gained coverage in states that expanded Medicaid). The ACA makes Medicaid available to anyone who earns less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or $16,105 this year for a single person. The law also lets individuals who make between the poverty level to four times that amount get tax credits to cut the cost of private health insurance. However, anyone making less than that or nothing, gets no assistance if they live in states that didn’t expand the program.
- Young, healthy people with higher incomes. With new insurance policies under the ACA, younger people are facing higher rates and higher deductibles.
- Person whose doctor is out-of-network. Some consumers are finding it difficult to find networks that include their current doctor. People have to make the choice to stick with their current doctor and pay more for insurance or switch doctors and pay less.
- People who don’t want to buy insurance coverage, who will still be uninsured and will have to pay a penalty.
- Unauthorized immigrants who are not eligible for any part of the ACA. Also, low-income authorized immigrants who have lived in the United States for less than five years and therefore are not eligible for Medicaid.
In our last post of our ACA series, we will wrap things up by looking at the overall impact of the health law. Stay tuned!
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