JACKSONVILE, Fla. – With so much information available on the Affordable Care Act, it can be tough to separate fact from fiction.
Dr. Carolyn McClanahan told Channel 4 Monday night people need to do their homework before they listen to rumors around the subject.
"This law is not just about insurance, this is about how health care is delivered," said Dr. Carolyn McClanahan. "The number one myth is that Obamacare is a type of insurance. Obamacare is not a type of insurance, it is the plan that allowed us to buy individual insurance without worries about pre-existing conditions."
Another myth Dr. McClanahan wants cleared up is those who are saying health insurance will now be more expensive. Dr. McClanahan said that's tricky to determine, and it depends on the person.
"The premiums will be slightly more expensive for people who are younger, who are healthy and who had bare-boned policies. The premiums will be much less expensive for people who are older and who have had health issues," said McClanahan.
Some people are hearing that if they are already sick, they won't be able to afford the coverage offered in the Affordable Care Act. That's not the case. According to McClanahan, that's what makes the act different.
"People who are sick are going to pay the same amount as people who are healthy," said McClanahan. "And this is a good thing because when you're sick, that's when you can least afford the premiums, and for them to suddenly go up because you're ill is not the right thing."
Finally, while there are rumors around the penalties, people will have to pay if they don't sign up for coverage.
"Yes, if you don't have coverage, you can afford to pay for the coverage. Then you will have to pay a penalty. But if the insurance costs more than 9.5 percent of your income and you don't qualify for tax credit, you will not have to pay a penalty," said Dr. McClanahan.