Assignment 4: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Over the next few weeks, you will explore many of the critical components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Each week, a different provision will be introduced. Your assignments will include researching the provision and explaining the changes that will occur with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Week 3: Individual Mandate

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires U.S. citizens and legal residents to obtain qualifying health coverage. This week you will explore the Individual Mandate section of the new health reform law.

1. Explain the Individual Mandate included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and include the tax penalties that will be imposed if a person or family does not obtain qualifying health coverage.
2. Who will qualify, and what premium and cost-sharing subsidies will be available to individuals?
3. Research the income levels of individuals in your state by reviewing information available on the www.census.gov Web site. How do you think the individual mandate will affect the citizens and legal residents in your state?
4. If you were required to make one policy change or enhancement to ensure success of the individual mandate included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, what would you recommend?

Present your analysis with supporting information as a 4-page report in a Word document formatted in APA style.

Name your document as: LastnameFirstInitial_W3_A3.doc.
For example, if your name is John Smith, your document will be named SmithJ_W3_A3.doc.