Affordable Care Act - Individuals

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also referred to "Obamacare" is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.
On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
However, the Supreme Court held that states cannot be forced to participate in the Affordable Care Acts Medicaid expansion under penalty of losing their current Medicaid funding.
The Affordable Care Act includes a number of provisions that take effect between 2010 and 2020. Policies issued before 2010 are exempted by a grandfather clause from many of the changes to insurance standards, but they are affected by other provisions which take effect by January 1, 2014.

Individuals will need to carry health insurance beginning in 2014 unless they meet an exception: Exemptions will be granted for: Individuals with income below the tax filing threshold ($9,750 single; $19,500 married filing joint), Individuals whose lowest cost plan option exceeds 8% of household income, those claiming financial hardship or claiming religious objections.
Individuals without coverage for less than 3 months and Aliens not lawfully present in the United States or American Indians or Incarcerated individuals.

1- Health Insurance Marketplace referred to as a health exchange. it began in 2014, this program helps a person find health insurance that fits their budget. The exchange is run by the state or federal government and it results in a private insurance policy.
2- Job-based coverage is when employer offers health insurance coverage. You may be eligible to receive it, including your spouse or dependents. Employers may decline coverage for certain reasons such as for part-time workers, but not for health related reasons.
3- Medicaid: Each state offers Medicaid for lower income people or for the elderly or people with disabilities.
4- Private policy: these health plans will cost the same whether acquired directly or through an insurance exchange. Subsidies will apply only if you are using an insurance exchange.

If you can’t afford health insurance, subsidies are provided. The Affordable Care Act is designed to provide a subsidy or tax credit to low and middle income individuals so they can afford to buy health insurance. People who purchase insurance through an exchange may be eligible for the Premium Assistance Credit.
The credit is refundable and payable in advance directly to the health insurer. The individual will then pay the difference between the total premium and the credit. For employed individuals, the premiums can be made through payroll deductions. Direct subsidies are also available.

Generally, uninsured individuals who purchase health insurance through an online health insurance marketplace or exchange and have income no greater than $94,200 for a family of 4, may be eligible for a government subsidy to help pay for health insurance.
The subsidy will be in the form of a tax credit.The credit or subsidy will be applied to your insurance premium when you purchase it in 2014.
To figure out if you’re eligible for a subsidy, you need to determine your household size and household income and see where it falls within the federal poverty line.
Subsidies are available up to 400% of the federal poverty line. Up to 133% of the federal poverty line, a family needs to devote 2% of its income towards the premium, with the balance subsidized by the government. The subsidy then decreases as income goes up.

There is no government run insurance plan or single payer system established under the Affordable Care Act. The government will only run the health care exchanges and the insurance industry will still be run by private companies.
Public exchanges will be available in all 50 states and 4 levels of health care insurance will be offered. They are platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Each insurance plan will offer the “minimum essential coverage”, which is needed to avoid paying a penalty. Private exchanges will be available as an alternative to the public exchanges.

Wages are subject to a 2.9% Medicare payroll tax with the employee and employer each paying half (1.45%). There is no limit to the amount of wages that are subject to the Medicare tax. Self-employed individuals pay both halves.
Beginning in 2013, there is an additional 0.9% (2.35% in total) Medicare tax that applies to wages received in excess of $250,000 for joint filers, $200,000 for single filers and $125,000 for Married filing separate filers.
This additional tax will be filed on new IRS Form 8959 which will transfer to Form 1040 Line 60.

In 2013, the new tax applied to investment income, such as interest and dividends for individuals with income over certain thresholds.
There is a 3.8% surtax levied on the lesser of net investment income or the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $250,000 for joint filers and qualified widow's, $200,000 for single filers and $125,000 for married filing separately taxpayers.
The Net Investment Income Tax will calculated on new IRS Form 8960 and transfer to Form 1040 line 60.

Yes, The 3.8% surtax is levied on the lesser of net investment income or the excess of modified adjusted gross income over $11,950 for estate and trusts. The new tax will be calculated on new IRS Form 8960 and transfer to Form 1041, Schedule G, line 4.