Angelika Christmas and New Year are around the corner, 2013 has just flown by. Following tradition, during this time, there's good wishes abound for happyness and a healthy life.

In 2014, many Americans hopefully no longer need to fear that a severe illness will ruin them financially. We're witnessing a historical moment as all people across the United States will have access to health insurance, despite persistent protests and fierce debate.

The change isn't coming easy, and it's not only the technical difficulties with the government-operated website selling health insurance, which turned out to be brittle patchwork.

But sooner or later, we think it'll become evident that having access to health insurance is a basic right. The new legislation will sure have to be amended going forward, but to give you an idea on what it looks like, we'll present a hopefully entertaining quiz with some maybe not so obvious facts today.

Have a merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2014!

Angelika and Michael

1. What is the exact term for the health care system overhaul?

a) Obama Care Health Act

b) Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

c) Healthy America and Affordable Care Act

2. How high is the penalty assessed for an individual not covered by health insurance starting in 2014?

a) $250 in 2014; $950 in 2015, $3250 in 2016

b) $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 in 2016

c) $1000 in 2014; $2500 in 2015, $3250 in 2016

3. Does the new health care legislation require everyone to enroll in a new health plan?

a) Correct

b) Incorrect

4. Up to what age can children be insured under their parents' health plan?

a) 18

b) 21

c) 26

5. Health insurers cannot exclude pre-existing conditions anymore. True or false?

a) True

b) False

6. Which medical services are health insurers required to offer from now on and cover at least 60% of the cost?

a) Doctors visits and lab work

b) Hospitalization

c) Prescription medicine

d) Pregnancy and child birth

e) Dentists visits

f) Approved preventive care

g) Abortions

h) Vision care

i) Regenerative measures like physical therapy and logopaedia

j) Treatment of mental health issues and addiction

7. Out of pocket expenses (excluding insurance premiumms) per year must not exceed:

a) $1,250 for individuals; $3,500 for families

b) $500 for individuals; $2,000 for families

c) $6,350 for individuals; $12,700 for families

8. With the new law, who can get health insurance?

a) American citizens and Green Card holders

b) American citizens, Green Card holders, legal immigrants on a visa, illegal immigrants

c) American citizens, Green Card holders, legal immigrants on a visa

d) American citizens

9. Insurance providers pay up to a maximum yearly amount of:

a) 1 Million Dollars per year

b) 500,000 Dollars per year

c) Limiting coverage is not longer legal

10. According to the new law, what's the percentage health insureres must allocate for medical services from the premiums?

a) 100%

b) 80%

c) 60%

Answers:

1b

2b

3b: Individuals already covered by health insurance (e.g. because their employer provides one) can keep theirs.

4c

5a

6a Yes

6b Yes

6c Yes

6d Yes

6e No, only for children (usually adults have separate dental insurance)

6f yes

6g No

6h No, only for children

6i Yes

6j Yes

7c

8c

9c

10b