The Hidden Costs of ‘Affordable’ Health Insurance Plans

The Affordable Care Act has expanded access to health care by providing affordable coverage to millions of Americans. But finding a policy that meets your health care needs and your budget requirements can be daunting. Now the good news: Shopping for health insurance has gotten easier. For starters, the state-based health insurance marketplaces and federal exchange created by the Affordable Care Act provide consumers with a "one-stop shopping experience to easily compare the costs and benefits of plans," says Kevin Lucia, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms. These marketplaces offer tax credits and subsidies to people with low and moderate incomes.