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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Showtime for Obamacare

The New Year brought with it medical coverage for millions of Americans under the Affordable Care Act . Yesterday about two million people began to receive private health coverage through the state health exchanges or the federal website.

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KCRW placeholderBy Barbara Bogaev • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

The New Year brought with it medical coverage for millions of Americans under the Affordable Care Act. Yesterday about two million people began to receive private health coverage through the state health exchanges or the federal website. With one of the nation's most sweeping changes to social policy in decades, no longer can insurers deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, or charge them more for their coverage than other customers. It's also the first time they can't legally charge women higher premiums for the same coverage as men, and the first time they can't set a specific limit on the amount they spend on "essential health benefits" for individual policyholders. But there are a lot of "if's" in the implementation of Obamacare. Will people be able to find a doctor who accepts their new plan? Are the nation's healthcare providers ready for the change in policy? And how will Obamacare shape the political climate this election year?

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    Barbara Bogaev

    radio journalist

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

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    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Sarah Kliff

    Vox

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    Susan Shargel

    Shargel and Company

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    Bryce Williams

    Towers Watson's Exchange Solutions

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