SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Supporters of the Affordable Care Act say it will improve access for patients who need it most. Those against it believe it's going to cost too much.
If you are one of the nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance, you will now be required to have it by 2014.
If you don't have coverage by then, you may have to pay a penalty.
It's still unclear what that penalty will be, since some say the law doesn't have teeth.
You can stay on a parent's health insurance until you turn 26 years old.
If you are one of the 250 million Americans that already has health insurance, you'll still be covered.
The law, prohibits insurance companies from denying access to or raising rates for people with preexisting conditions.
Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on the amount of care you receive.
They can't drop your coverage if you get sick or raise your premiums with no reason.
And insurance companies must provide free preventive care.
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which insures more than 2 million Iowans and South Dakotans, says the move will however, cause the price of insurance to go up.
"Wellmark will continue to implement the various provision required by the law while working with policy makers to fix provisions that will increase costs such as compressed rate bands that will result in driving up premiums for young people and the health insurance tax that will add hundreds of dollars to family's premiums each year," said Courtney Greene of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The company released a statement saying it plans to continue to work with lawmakers on health care decisions.
