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 Started Share Quiz





1 Will the health reform law require nearly all Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014 or else pay a fine? No, the law will not do this Yes, the law will do this Don't know. 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, the law will not do this Yes, the law will do this Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. Yes, the law will do this.

7 Will the health reform law cut benefits for people in the traditional Medicare program? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. 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? No, the law will not do this. Yes, the law will do this. Don't know. Yes, the law will do this.