Supreme Court's Decision On 'Obamacare': An Easy Roadmap To What It All Means

The Associated Press has published a breakdown today of the

The piece offers a quick roadmap to the law and what today's decision means. Here’s the synopsis:

THE  BASICS:

--The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, including the part that mandates nearly all Americans have health insurance or pay a fine.

--“The ruling put some limits on the law's plan to expand the Medicaid insurance program for the poor, a joint effort of the federal government and states. It says the U.S. government cannot threaten to withhold a state's entire Medicaid allotment if it doesn't participate in the expansion,” The Associated Press reported.

--Chief Justice John Roberts, along with justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor formed the 5-4 majority.

WHAT NOW?

--The 2010 health care law will continue phasing in as planned. It's expected to bring coverage to about 30 million uninsured people.

--Young adults can stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26. Insurers can't deny coverage to children with health problems.

--Limits on how much policies will pay out to each person over a lifetime are eliminated.

--Hundreds of older people already are saving money through improved Medicare prescription benefits.

--Co-payments for preventive care for all ages have been eliminated.

WHAT'S NEXT?

--Starting in 2014, almost everyone will be required to be insured or pay a fine; there are subsidies to help people who can't afford coverage.

--Most employers will face fines if they don't offer coverage for their workers.

--Newly created insurance markets will make it easier for individuals and small businesses to buy affordable coverage.

--Medicaid will be expanded to cover more low-income people.

--Insurers will be prohibited from denying coverage to people with medical problems or charging those people more. They won't be able to charge women more, either. During the transition to 2014, a special program for people with pre-existing health problems helps these people get coverage.

--An assortment of tax increases, health industry fees and Medicare cuts will help pay for the changes.

-- An estimated 26 million people will remain without health coverage once the law is fully implemented, including illegal immigrants, people who don't sign up and elect to face the fine instead, and those who can't afford it even with the subsidies.

IS IT A DONE DEAL?

--Although the court found it constitutional, the health care law still could be changed by Congress. Romney and Republican congressional candidates are campaigning on promises to repeal it if elected in November.