Flowers, or a Punch in the Nose?

Dear New Health Care Law,

With many of your main provisions on the horizon, I don’t know whether to hug you or punch you in the nose. As a career health insurance agent, it’s easy for me to see some of your best attributes. We have struggled with insuring people with pre-existing conditions for years and for solving this I am most grateful.  Many people have had to go without coverage or have been stuck in expensive programs and as of January, 2014, this will, thankfully, change. Premiums will be based on age and adjusted gross income and not on health status. All legal residents can buy coverage on a sort of sliding scale, lower income individuals will have access to free or low cost insurance, and higher incomes can buy great plans but at a cost.

I know those making less than 138% of the poverty level (roughly, $15,000 single/$31,000 family of 4) will be big fans of the expansion and improvement of Medi-cal. Currently, Medi-cal requires a much lower income to qualify and is difficult to get if you are childless.