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"Shutdown or no shutdown we're ready to go," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Monday. Federally operated markets in 36 states open at 8 a.m. Eastern time. The remaining states are running their own markets. Polls show the country remains divided over the law, with opponents outnumbering supporters. Nonetheless, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey released over the weekend found 56 percent of Americans disapprove of cutting off funding to expand coverage for the uninsured, as congressional Republicans are pressing to do. The poll also found people in a fog about what the law means for them. Nearly three-fourths of the uninsured were unaware of the new insurance markets opening to serve them. In states not expanding Medicaid, millions of uninsured people below the federal poverty level will likely be shut out of coverage. That's the case in Texas and Florida
-- both of which have large uninsured populations -- and in many, but not all, Republican-led states. It's because under the law, people below the poverty line -- an individual making $11,490, a family of four $23,550
-- can only get the new coverage through expanded Medicaid. And the Supreme Court gave states the right to opt out. The other arm of "Obamacare's" coverage expansion -- subsidized private insurance through the new markets
-- is mainly geared to uninsured people in the middle class. The administration is hoping to sign up 7 million the first year. Young, healthy adults are prime customers, since they'll help offset the cost of caring for sicker people sure to sign up once insurers can no longer reject them. Kevin Maass of Fairfax, Va., has been uninsured for more than a year, since he turned 26 and could no longer stay on his parents' insurance. He's got a background in statistics that he hopes to apply to criminology, but he's been working temporary jobs while looking for permanent employment in law enforcement. "Not having health insurance has made me a little bit more cautious," said Maass. "I like to snowboard, but it's given me second thoughts. Heaven forbid I should break my wrist or my arm." Maass thinks he might be able to afford $100 to $200 a month for insurance. Early indications are that he'll find plenty of options. However, plans with the lowest premiums will have high deductibles and copayments, which means sizable out-of-pocket costs if he gets sick or has an accident. Nonetheless, Maass says he's definitely planning to check out the health insurance market. "My parents have been pushing for me to get health insurance," he said. "I might as well at least get something rather than pay (a fine) to not have anything."
[Associated
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