Get Ready For The New Health Care Changes

Starting in 2012 a portion of the new health care reform bill goes into action and should be ending around 2020. Over 30 million people, that were previously uninsured will now be covered according to this bill. Are you one of the people who is in disbelief? January 1, 2015 is the deadline for every state to have a insurance exchange set up to start offering people insurance.

There are so many variables in this bill that the politicians are having a hard time answering questions as they simply do not have the answers. Starting in 2014 everyone must purchase private insurance, purchase insurance through their employer or buy insurance through one's state insurance exchange. It is still the individuals choice, however the government has now added a stiff penalty if they do not want to pay for insurance. They will be fined $695.00 per year. So, the bottom line is buy health insurance or pay a fine.

The timing for these changes couldn't be worse. No one really sees promising improvements in the economy, which could lead to financial ruin for the U.S. Many people feel we are already at that door. November 2011 numbers report a record number of people jobless because of business failures or cut backs.

In addition most of these people have lost their homes. Many have run out of unemployment benefits and are turning to food banks to feed their families. Thousands of people every day turn to their state for financial help for energy bills that they cannot pay. If they are able to hold onto their homes, their energy bills are brining them down.

The law now states the any business who employs 50 or more persons, must offer health insurance. Failing to do so will result in payment of $2000 per employee per year. The Federal Poverty Level will set the tone for the insurance rates. The government believes this plan will have a price tag of 950 billion dollars. However they also believe that it will cause a 140 billion dollar deficit reduction the first 10 years and increase to 1.2 trillion the second 10 years according to their estimations.

One question that is not being answered concerns the millions of people who have lost their homes, can't pay their energy bills, afford a car or even rent be expected to buy and pay for health insurance or face the $700 annual fine? If food banks are the only resource standing between eating and starvation, where will they get the money to pay a fine mandated by the government? Freedom used to mean freedom to work to pay your bills and take care of your family but is now similar to the American dream; is it all but a thing of the past.