How the ACA is ALREADY helping lots of people in Chicago:
They have started Countycare for the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. The money is coming from the ACA and Stroger the County Hospital is getting lots of money in reimbursement they have never seen before because these patients don't qualify for public aid or medicare/
From the website:
What is CountyCare?
Good news! There is a new health care program for adults in Cook County. This program is called CountyCare. It is operated by the State of Illinois and the Cook County Health and Hospitals Systems (CCHHS). It is a Medicaid program available under healthcare reform.
To join, you need to:
Live in Cook County.
Be 19-64 years of age.
Be a legal immigrant for at least 5 years or be a US citizen.
Meet income limits. (Limits are $15,282 of income per year for an individual or $20,628 for a couple).
Have a Social Security Number or have applied for one.
If you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, you cannot join CountyCare.
Individuals in CountyCare will get their health care from Cook County doctors or from community health centers, in your neighborhood. The choice is yours.
http://countycare.com/default.aspx