What's the difference between medical and Obamacare?
Asked by: Afton Swaniawski | Last update: December 13, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (28 votes)
Is Obamacare the same as Medi-Cal?
Obamacare is just another word for the ACA, but it's often used to describe the private health insurance plans that people purchase through each state's health insurance exchange. Medicaid is a government-run program for low-income Americans.
Is Medi-Cal Obamacare?
Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medi-Cal served low-income families and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Under the ACA, California lawmakers expanded the program to include low-income adults without children or a qualifying disability starting in 2014.
Can I have both Medicaid and Obamacare?
Keeping both Marketplace and Medicaid and CHIP
If you have qualifying health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you'll pay full price for your Marketplace plan premium and covered services.
Which is better, Medicaid or marketplace?
A Marketplace health plan would cost more than Medicaid and usually wouldn't offer more coverage or benefits. If you qualify for Medicaid, you aren't eligible for savings on a Marketplace plan. You'd have to pay full price for a plan.
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Who is not eligible for Obamacare?
Must live in the United States. Must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present). Learn about eligible immigration statuses. Cannot be incarcerated in prison or jail.
What will disqualify you from Medi-Cal?
The Medi-Cal program determines eligibility for benefits on a “means” tested basis. If a Medi-Cal applicant's property/assets are over the Medi-Cal property limit, the applicant will not be eligible for Medi-Cal unless they lower their property/assets according to the program rules.
How much is Medi-Cal per month?
If eligible, as of July 1, 2022 a California law allows you to receive full Medi-Cal coverage with $0 monthly premium. To qualify, you must: Meet the medical requirements of Social Security's definition of disability. Be working and earning income (this can be part-time work).
Do all doctors accept Obamacare?
Understanding your coverage options under Obamacare
Just like any other health plan, your Marketplace plan may not be accepted by every doctor, hospital, or provider. Many Marketplace insurance plans have limited or “narrow” networks of doctors and hospitals that agree to accept these lower negotiated prices.
What is Obamacare called now?
Affordable Care Act (ACA) The comprehensive health care reform law was enacted in March 2010. A measure of income issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What does Medi-Cal not cover?
Restricted scope Medi-Cal covers limited services. It does not cover medicine or primary care. If you have pregnancy-related limited scope Medi-Cal, you will have the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if the service is medically necessary.
Can I refuse health insurance from my employer and get Obamacare?
Obamacare is available to everyone, whether or not their employers offer insurance. From a practical standpoint, though, there are financial consequences to doing this. Often, an employer subsidizes part or all of their employees' coverage.
Can you be on Medicare and Obamacare at the same time?
Can I get a Marketplace plan in addition to Medicare? No. It's against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell or issue you a Marketplace policy. This is true even if you have only Medicare Part A or only Part B.
What is the disadvantage of Medi-Cal?
The perception that Medi-Cal offered poorer coverage or less respectful treatment than other types of insurance. Concerns among noncitizen respondents that applying for Medi-Cal might affect their immigration status.
How much money can you have in the bank if you have Medi-Cal?
For new Medi-Cal applications only, current asset limits are $130,000 for one person and $65,000 for each additional household member, up to 10.
Why don t doctors accept Medi-Cal?
Why doctors say they don't see Medi-Cal patients. While low reimbursement rates are the most common reason California doctors say they limit the number of Medi-Cal patients they see, the program's administrative burden is also daunting. Source: California Health Care Foundation.
How do you qualify for free Obamacare?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, gives most uninsured people in the U.S. access to health insurance as long as they are U.S. citizens who live in the country or noncitizens who are lawfully present, not incarcerated, and not covered by Medicare.
Can you be turned down for Obamacare?
No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started. Once you're enrolled, the plan can't deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.
Who is exempt from Obamacare?
If you're seeking an exemption because you can't afford coverage, you're a member of a federally recognized tribe, you're incarcerated, or you participate in a recognized health care sharing ministry, you have two options: The exemptions can be claimed when you complete your federal tax return.
What is the cheapest health insurance in California?
Affordable health insurance in California for 2025
L.A. Care has the cheapest rates in California, and it's the cheapest health insurance company for about a quarter of the people in California. But you can only get L.A. Care if you live in Los Angeles County.
What is the best HealthCare insurance?
Investopedia's analysis ranks Kaiser Permanente as the best health insurance company for 2025 because of its blend of affordability and low customer complaints. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna also earned top marks. We evaluated nine insurers using dozens of criteria, such as customer satisfaction, plan types, and costs.