Question

Jimmy has been told he can get healthcare coverage from his company because of the new Affordable Care Act. His company employs only ten people, but Jimmy is excited that he will finally get some insurance. He hasn't been feeling very good lately.

A. Jimmy might have to wait until he can arrange for insurance through one of the exchanges.
B. Jimmy should get an enrollment form from his boss because all employees will be covered by the new requirement that employers provide healthcare coverage to workers.
C. Jimmy is out of luck. The new law only covers employers with 50 or more people, and there is no way Jimmy will be getting health insurance under the new law.
D. Jimmy's boss just ran out of forms, but he will get some more from HR and then have Jimmy sign up for his coverage.

Answer 1

Jimmy's company is not required to provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act as it employs fewer than 50 people. Jimmy may opt for state health exchange markets to secure insurance, potentially with subsidies if he qualifies based on his income.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jimmy is concerned about getting healthcare coverage through his small employer due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. The ACA has been a significant reform in the U.S. healthcare system to address issues like the uninsured and underinsured by offering increased eligibility to Medicaid, preventing denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and setting regulations for insurers. However, the employer mandate requiring employers to provide health insurance only applies to companies with more than 50 employees. Since Jimmy's company has only ten employees, it is not obligated to offer health insurance under this mandate.

Jimmy will need to look into other options such as state government-sponsored health exchange markets created under the ACA, which offer both for-profit and non-profit insurance plans. These exchanges were designed to help individuals like Jimmy who do not receive employer-provided insurance. Depending on his income, he may also qualify for subsidies that would make purchasing insurance more affordable, thus addressing the issues of sky-high healthcare costs and adverse selection within the health insurance market.