Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act, enacted in March 2010, made significant changes in federal programs and tax policies regarding health care (and in other areas)—including changes affecting insurance coverage, affordability and accessibility of insurance, the financing of medical care, and the operation of the Medicare program. CBO analyzes the effects of the act under current law and the effects of proposals to change the law.

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A Public Option for Health Insurance in the Nongroup Marketplaces: Key Design Considerations and Implications
April 7, 2021
CBO describes the key design considerations for a federally administered nongroup health insurance plan—often referred to as a public option—and some of their major implications.
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Federal Subsidies for Health Insurance Coverage for People Under 65: 2020 to 2030
September 29, 2020
CBO and JCT project that federal subsidies, taxes, and penalties associated with health insurance coverage for people under age 65 will result in a net subsidy from the federal government of $920 billion in 2021 and $1.4 trillion in 2030.
Report
The 2020 Long-Term Budget Outlook
September 21, 2020
CBO presents its projections of what federal deficits, debt, spending, and revenues would be for the next 30 years if current laws governing taxes and spending generally did not change.
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Payments of Penalties for Being Uninsured Under the Affordable Care Act: 2014 Update
June 5, 2014
Under the ACA, most legal residents must get health insurance or pay a penalty. CBO and JCT estimate that 30 million will be uninsured in 2016, but most will be exempt from the penalty; 4 million will make payments totaling $4 billion.