1. Affordable Care Act

2. March 23, 2010 President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law.

3. Provisions
Requires most US citizens and legal residents to have health insurance. Create state-based American Health Benefit Exchanges through which individuals and businesses can purchase coverage
Those w/o coverage pay a tax penalty of the greater of $695 per year to 2.5% of household income up to $ (Challenged in SC – upheld)
Employers w/ 50 or more full time employers that did not previously offer coverage received tax credit of $2000 per employee
Employers w/ more than 200 employees must automatically enroll employees in health coverage; employees may opt out

4. Provisions
Expand Medicaid to ppl under 65 w/ incomes up to 133% FPL based on AGI (undocumented immigrants not eligible) (Challenged in SC – struck down)
Small businesses w/ fewer than 25 employees and average wages of less than $50,000 that purchase health insurance through their jobs receive tax credit of 35 – 50% of employers contribution
Impose excise tax on insurers of employer sponsored health plans with values that exceed $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage – 40% of value of plan that exceeds threshold amount

5. Provisions New fees on pharmaceutical manufacturing sector
Annual fee on health insurance sector
Excise tax of 2.3% on sale of any medical device
10% tax on indoor tanning services
Create Health Exchanges
Permit states to prohibit plans in the Exchange from providing coverage for abortion
Require all qualified health plans offer 10 “essential health benefits”
Provide dependent coverage for all children up to age 26

6. Provisions
Increase taxes on individuals making over $200,000 / year to 2.35% and married couples making $250,000 year 3.8% (raised approximately 1%)

7. Was Congress justified in passing the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act?
Reference: Affordable Care Act Provisions
Research: procon.org – Search for “Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Good for America”
Read: Top 10 Pros and Cons
Did you know?
Read: Essential Health Benefits
Read: Constitution Article 1 Sections 8 & 9 (A-12-14)
Prepare: Your opinion and top three reasons supporting your opinion – ½ page
Prepare: 3 questions you would ask someone w/ opposite view to lead them to change their mind

8. Is capital punishment cruel and unusual punishment?
Reference: procon.org; search for death peanalty; read arguments on BOTH sides
Prepare: Your opinion and top three reasons supporting your opinion
Prepare: 3 questions you would ask someone w/ opposite view to lead them to change their mind