C H A P T E R  
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New Choices
Individual, Family Insurance Options

Health care reform means big changes in the relationships individuals and families have with insurers. It may change where they purchase insurance, and how much they pay for it. It will require them to have insurance, and it will change what is covered by policies. It changes how tax laws treat medical expenses. And it provides a multitude of protections intended to keep insurers fair, honest, and efficient.

Before that, however, there is a notable exception. Remember President Obama's promise: “If you like your health plan, you can keep it. … Nobody is talking about taking that away from you.” The new health care law attempts to keep that promise—sort of.

This chapter looks at how the new law allows for grandfathering existing policies, setting up insurance exchanges, compelling people to buy insurance, tax consequences, and more. It also covers in depth the Massachusetts experiment in health care reform.