Health Care Reform Myths and Facts:

Myth #1: Health care reform means the government can make life-and-death decisions for you.

Fact: Individuals, their doctors and their families will continue to make life-and-death decisions, regardless of a patient's age.

Myth #2: Health care reform is just a government takeover of our health care—isn't this just socialized medicine?

Fact: The health law relies heavily on private insurers to provide coverage. It also strengthens the regulation of those insurers. Medicare, a government health care program, will continue to provide a large percentage of care to older and disabled Americans. Medicaid will expand to cover a greater proportion of very low-income adults.

Myth #3: The Affordable Care Act will require patients to go through a bureaucrat or panel to reach a doctor.

Fact: You will still choose your own doctor or insurance plan without interference.

Myth #4: The law will provide subsidized insurance to undocumented immigrants who may be in the country illegally.

Fact: Undocumented immigrants will not be allowed to purchase policies through the new health care exchange, with or without federal subsidies. Although they will not be required to buy insurance, they may still be able to purchase on the private market.

Myth #5: Health care reform will contribute to rising health care costs and will increase the deficit.

Fact: The Congressional Budget Office released a report in August 2010 showing that repealing the Affordable Care Act would actually increase the deficit. Click here for details.

Myth #6: Health care reform will be paid for by seniors—most of the savings will come from cutting Medicare benefits.

Fact: The new law will not cut benefits for seniors; the same protections that Medicare beneficiaries have now—and more—will be there in the future. In fact, the Medicare Part D program donut hole will be closed over the next 10 years. Savings from the Medicare program will be realized through better coordinated care and reduced hospitalizations.

Myth #7: You will be forced to purchase insurance you can't afford.

Fact: The Affordable Care Act will make health insurance affordable for everyone, with tax credits for those who need help buying coverage anhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd a hardship waiver for those who still can't afford it.

Myth #8: The small business tax credits won't actually provide relief.

Fact: Small businesses with low- and moderate-income workers will receive $40 billion in new tax credits to help cover the cost of health coverage for their employees. In general, the credit is available to small employers (with fewer than 25 employees) that pay at least half of the cost of single coverage for their employees. The credit is worth up to 35% of a small business' premium costs in 2010 (25% for tax-exempt employers). An estimated 194,000 small businesses in Illinois will be eligible to receive these tax credits this year.

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