What impact will the open enrollment portion of the Affordable Care Act have on people?

October 1st the online marketplace goes live, opening for business with full information on Illinois’ new healthcare exchange with monthly premium prices and what benefits each plan includes.  “Obamacare” requires that certain benefits be included so more comprehensive plans might be slightly more expensive than existing plans, but most low and mid-income customers will be eligible for tax credits to help offset their costs.  Some will still be eligible for free care through Medicaid.  Consumers need to consider which plans provide the coverage their medical providers accept.  Remember the days before car insurance was mandatory?  The price for uninsured receiving medical attention gets shifted onto people with good health insurance.  Cable and cell phones are not necessities; decent healthcare coverage is.  Confusion or unpopularity associated with this reform stems from lies perpetuated by the Republicans who are beholden to the lobbyists of the AMA, whose graft will be weeded out.  Beware, the Tom, Dick, Harrys and Charlies will tell you that the sky is falling!  Don’t believe them!  …. My 62 year old retired friend, in good health, pays $800 a month for her health insurance coverage; she’ll be glad to pay around half that amount.