Health Reform Quiz
The health reform law promises to deliver big changes in the U.S. health care system. But, as with other sweeping pieces of legislation, it can be hard to get the real facts about what it does. And it is all too easy for misinformation about the law to spread.
Take our short, 10-question quiz to test your knowledge of the law, and then share your results with friends on Twitter or Facebook.
Get Started1
Will the health reform law require nearly all Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014 or else pay a fine?
Starting in 2014, most U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to obtain health coverage, or pay a penalty.
2
Will the health reform law establish a government panel to make decisions about end-of-life care for people on Medicare?
No such panels exist.
3
Will the health reform law give states the option of expanding their existing Medicaid program to cover more low-income, uninsured adults?
As enacted, the ACA calls for the expansion of state Medicaid programs beginning in 2014 to cover nearly all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($15,856 for an individual or $26,951 for a family of three in 2013).
4
Will the health reform law allow undocumented immigrants to receive financial help from the government to buy health insurance?
Under the ACA, undocumented immigrants will remain ineligible for Medicaid and will be ineligible for the premium tax credits.
5
Will the health reform law increase the Medicare payroll tax on earnings for upper income Americans?
It increases the Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) payroll tax on earnings for higher-income taxpayers (more than $200,000/individual and $250,000/couple) by 0.9 percentage points from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent, beginning in 2013.
6
Will the health reform law require employers with 50 or more employees to pay a fine if they don't offer health insurance?
Yes, the law will do this.
7
Will the health reform law cut benefits for people in the traditional Medicare program?
In fact, it improves certain benefits, such as coverage of preventive services, and closes the Medicare drug coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole."
8
Will the health reform law provide financial help to low- and moderate-income Americans who don't get insurance through their jobs to help them purchase coverage?
Tax credits will be available to eligible U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who purchase coverage in the new health insurance exchanges and who have income up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($45,960 for an individual or $94,200 for a family of four in 2013).
9
Will the health reform law create a new government-run insurance plan to be offered along with private plans?
The existing Medicaid program will be expanded to cover more low-income people, government regulation of the health insurance industry will be increased, and tax credits will be provided to make private health insurance more affordable for people.
10
Will the health reform law create health insurance exchanges or marketplaces where small businesses and people who don't get coverage through their employers can shop for insurance and compare prices and benefits?
Yes, the law will do this.
Health Reform Quiz
You Answered out of 10 Questions Correctly.
Question
Correct Response
1
Will the health reform law require nearly all Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014 or else pay a fine?
Starting in 2014, most U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to obtain health coverage, or pay a penalty.
Yes. Starting in 2014, most U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to obtain health coverage, or pay a penalty. Some exemptions will be granted, for example, for those with religious objections or where insurance would cost more than 8% of their income.
2
Will the health reform law establish a government panel to make decisions about end-of-life care for people on Medicare?
No such panels exist.
No. No such panels exist. While early versions of the law did contain provisions that would allow Medicare to reimburse physicians for voluntary discussions with patients about end-of-life planning, these provisions were dropped from the final legislation.
3
Will the health reform law give states the option of expanding their existing Medicaid program to cover more low-income, uninsured adults?
As enacted, the ACA calls for the expansion of state Medicaid programs beginning in 2014 to cover nearly all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($15,856 for an individual or $26,951 for a family of three in 2013).
Yes. As enacted, the ACA calls for the expansion of state Medicaid programs beginning in 2014 to cover nearly all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($15,856 for an individual or $26,951 for a family of three in 2013). However, while the Supreme Court upheld the ACA, it limited the federal government’s ability to enforce the Medicaid expansion to low-income adults, effectively making the Medicaid expansion a state choice.
4
Will the health reform law allow undocumented immigrants to receive financial help from the government to buy health insurance?
Under the ACA, undocumented immigrants will remain ineligible for Medicaid and will be ineligible for the premium tax credits.
No. Under the ACA, undocumented immigrants will remain ineligible for Medicaid and will be ineligible for the premium tax credits. They also will be prohibited from purchasing coverage through an exchange even at full cost.
5
Will the health reform law increase the Medicare payroll tax on earnings for upper income Americans?
It increases the Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) payroll tax on earnings for higher-income taxpayers (more than $200,000/individual and $250,000/couple) by 0.9 percentage points from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent, beginning in 2013.
Yes. The law increases the Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) payroll tax on earnings for higher-income taxpayers (more than $200,000/individual and $250,000/couple) by 0.9 percentage points from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent, beginning in 2013.
6
Will the health reform law require employers with 50 or more employees to pay a fine if they don't offer health insurance?
Yes, the law will do this.
Learn More7
Will the health reform law cut benefits for people in the traditional Medicare program?
In fact, it improves certain benefits, such as coverage of preventive services, and closes the Medicare drug coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole."
No, the law does not cut benefits for people in the traditional Medicare program. In fact, it improves certain benefits, such as coverage of preventive services, and closes the Medicare drug coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole."
8
Will the health reform law provide financial help to low- and moderate-income Americans who don't get insurance through their jobs to help them purchase coverage?
Tax credits will be available to eligible U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who purchase coverage in the new health insurance exchanges and who have income up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($45,960 for an individual or $94,200 for a family of four in 2013).
Yes, tax credits will be available to eligible U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who purchase coverage in the new health insurance exchanges and who have income up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($45,960 for an individual or $94,200 for a family of four in 2013).
9
Will the health reform law create a new government-run insurance plan to be offered along with private plans?
The existing Medicaid program will be expanded to cover more low-income people, government regulation of the health insurance industry will be increased, and tax credits will be provided to make private health insurance more affordable for people.
No. The law does not create a new government-run health insurance plan. The existing Medicaid program will be expanded to cover more low-income people, government regulation of the health insurance industry will be increased, and tax credits will be provided to make private health insurance more affordable for people.
10
Will the health reform law create health insurance exchanges or marketplaces where small businesses and people who don't get coverage through their employers can shop for insurance and compare prices and benefits?