Angel recently graduated from college and is now working at a day care center. Being able to stay on her parent's health insurance until she turns 26, instead of losing her coverage after graduation, gave her one less thing to worry about as she prepared to finish college and make the transition from "being under mommy and daddy to being an adult," Angel says. "I get to breathe a little more."

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

After losing her insurance last year, Gail was unable to buy another policy because of her pre-existing condition—she is an insulin-dependent diabetic. After counting down the days until she qualified for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance plan established by the Affordable Care Act for people like Gail once they had been uninsured for at least 6 months, she applied for coverage through the program and will soon have care again. By 2014, insurance companies will be banned from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, creating more affordable insurance options for all Americans.

Darrius was 17 when his parents' health insurer informed the family it would no longer be providing him health coverage past his 18th birthday. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, he can now stay on the plan until he turns 26. Without the new law, Darrius would have lost his health insurance in 2010.

Finley Wise has a rare genetic disorder caused Hereditary Neuralgic Amyotrophy or HNA. It causes short, painful episodes of muscle atrophy that can be treated with over the counter or prescription painkillers for two to four weeks at a time—as long as the pain lasts—and requires no treatment between episodes. Finley has only had three such episodes in his entire life. Still, Finley, who runs a small video production company, was denied insurance coverage time and time again because of his pre-existing condition.

"I didn't like the feeling of not having health coverage. Even though I rarely see a doctor and am in great health, I still wanted coverage in place in case of emergencies and to have basic prescriptions provided," he said. "So I did an internet search and then read up on the Affordable Care Act. As soon as I discovered the [Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan] I applied! I only wish I'd known about it earlier."

Johanna's insurance coverage ended after she lost her job and her COBRA coverage ran out.  Once she was diagnosed with depression, she found it impossible to obtain health insurance because depression is considered a pre-existing condition. Johanna was able to join the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan and now has health insurance.

Gary has HIV. He had health insurance coverage through his employer, but when the cost of his plan hit $4,833 a quarter in December of 2009, he lost his coverage because neither he nor his employer could afford to keep paying for his care. Gary applied for the Pre-Exisiting Condition Insurance Plan, which he learned about by following the health care debate, and was accepted. Now, he pays just $381 a month for a plan that has all the benefits he needs to cover his treatment.

Helen is a widowed breast cancer patient who needed expensive brand name breast cancer medicine as part of her treatment. She received a $250 rebate check in 2010 to help pay for her medication after hitting the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole. The rebate was a one-time payment, and in 2011, seniors who fell into the donut hole began receiving a 50 percent discount on their name-brand medications. The Affordable Care Act makes changes to Medicare that will close the prescription drug coverage gap altogether by 2020.

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Dawn is a self-employed professional who has always had to secure her own health insurance. In the past, her health insurance plans always had important benefits excluded because of pre-existing conditions. She was expecting her new policy, which she purchased shortly after the new law was passed, to include exclusions because her son had eye muscle surgery to correct a condition called strabismus in 2009. She was surprised and elated when she learned that her new policy had no benefit exclusions; when she explained her son's pre-existing condition, the original quote of $438 for a family of 4 was "rated up" to $458—Dawn was expecting the rate to double. "I didn't think that $20 a month was too bad considering that if he does need another surgery it will be a couple of thousand dollars."

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Dr. Timothy McHugh is a family practitioner in the rural town of Meridian. One of his patients is a 24-year-old man with Type 1 Diabetes. The wages from his job working for a brick and stone company support his girlfriend and infant son, but the young man's employer does not provide health insurance. Before the Affordable Care Act, he was totally dependent on free and unreliable samples for testing supplies and insulin to manage his disease. "He wasn't checking his blood sugars even once a day, and relying on the onset of hypoglycemia to determine when he had reached his insulin limit and needed to eat," Dr. McHugh said. If he missed work because he was ill, his family's needs were at risk.

When the Affordable Care Act was passed, however, Dr. McHugh's patient was able to get back on his parents' insurance and can now afford to manage his diabetes, instead of risking his health and well-being on a daily basis. And when he turns 26 and can no longer stay on his parents' plan, the new law will be fully implemented, and he'll have a variety of options to purchase affordable health insurance.

Nan is a mother and small business owner in Chicago who makes the health insurance decisions for her seven person staff. Her company covers the full cost of insurance for her employees and they have seen premiums skyrocket in recent years. "We had a rough year in 2008 and 2009, like many businesses did, and certainly had to think twice about covering everyone's full health insurance cost," she said. "When you are cutting back on things, benefits are one of the places that you have to seriously consider."

The new small business tax credits have made it easier for Nan's business to provide coverage to her employees and the law will also help crack down on unreasonable premium hikes. "Health care should be something that we all have access to. I think small businesses need to know that the health care reform law will help them save a lot of money"

Paul says he and his wife struggled with getting the health care they need all their married lives. Since the Affordable Care Act passed, however, Paul said that things have been much better. In 2010, he received a one-time $250 payment to help pay for prescription drugs once he hit the coverage gap known as the "donut hole." In 2011, seniors who fall into the prescription drug coverage gap began receiving a 50 percent discount on their name-brand medications, and that hole will be closed entirely in 2020 because of health care reform. Additionally, the $1 million lifetime limit on his wife's health care policy has now disappeared, giving them the security of knowing her coverage will be there for her if she needs it. "Knowing that there's no firm limit that says 'we will only spend X number of dollars and that's it,' that's kind of freeing in a way."

For the past year, Amy Ward has been living through a medical emergency that sounds like a TV plotline. Months after returning from a vacation, she came down with a rare fungal infection and nearly died. On her road to recovery, Amy had to be on ventilators and dialysis. She's needed potent antifungal agents that cost up to $1,600 a dose. Her medical expenses quickly added up. Without the Affordable Care Act, Amy and her husband may not have been able to afford all the care she needed to recover. Before the new health reform law, Amy's health insurance policy had a lifetime dollar limit of $1 million. While it sounds like a lot, Amy's expenses exceeded that amount within months. Amy is one of 105 million Americans with private health insurance who no longer will face lifetime limits on their care thanks to health reform.

Morgan is a young adult with diabetes who would have lost insurance when she turned 24 if not for health reform. But now she can stay on her stepfather's insurance until she turns 26. She says this will help a lot, especially in light of her pre-existing condition. "I was worried that I wouldn't have [a job] by the time I would have to get off my parent's plan, and it was going to be hard to deal with it on my own." By the time Morgan turns 26, the new law will be fully implemented and she will have more health insurance options.

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

"In order to benefit from scientific advances in health care, people need to have access to health care," says Jean Hamlin, who is studying to be a doctor. "I want to be part of the effort to improve the delivery of health care in America." Hamlin plans to specialize in family medicine. "I want to care for people of all ages, whether they are sick or seeking to maintain their good health. Family medicine will allow me to look at the whole person, and think broadly about how different medical issues or treatments may be interacting with one another." Hamlin is a member of the National Health Service Corps, which provides financial support to medical students who are committed to a career in primary care in exchange for at least three years of service in communities with limited access to care.

The Affordable Care Act created the National Health Service Corps, which provides financial support to medical students who are committed to a career in primary care in exchange for at least three years of service in communities with limited access to care. Christin Donnelly, who is studying medicine at the University of Maryland, looks forward to maximizing the "wonderful education I have been given. My experiences working inner city Baltimore and rural western Maryland have shown me how fulfilling it is to provide healthcare for those who need it the most."

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Inspired by the doctors who treated his mother when she had quadruple bypass surgery, Erick Moberg knew he wanted to be a doctor when he walked across the stage of his college graduation ceremony. He planned to take time to work and gain new skills before continuing on to medical school. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, he was able to remain on his mother's insurance plan while he did so, and Erick will stay on her plan when he goes back to school. By the time he turns 26 and can no longer stay on her parents' plan, the new law will be fully implemented, and she'll have a variety of options to purchase affordable health insurance. Watch the video above to see Erick receive a surprise phone call from President Obama.

Gail's son, who has a pre-existing condition, recently graduated from college. The ability to keep him on their insurance plan until he turns 26 has made life less stressful for Gail and her husband. "Knowing that my son was on the verge of graduating, people would ask how he was doing and every conversation I would put in '…and we are so relieved that right away we've been able to put him on our health insurance because of the new health care laws.'" Now, Gail and her husband don't have to worry about their son going without insurance while he looks for a full-time job with health care benefits.

Lisa's daughter Julie is 25 years old and a survivor of sexual assault. After her assault Julie was able to receive counseling because she has access to great health insurance coverage through Lisa's current employer. Additionally, Julie was diagnosed with Dysautonomia, a potentially debilitating disease that can cause blackouts and make it difficult or impossible to work. Instead of losing her health insurance when she turned 24, Julie remains covered by her mother's plan and was able to get a pacemaker that allows her to work. She is grateful she will now be able to stay on her parents' insurance until she turns 26.

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Mike and his wife Margaret have provided health insurance to all 25 of the employees in their grocery store since it opened in 1975, because of "the idea that personal gain should not be built on the denial of a fair and livable standard living for those we employ." Although providing insurance for a small business was not always easy, they have never required their workers to contribute to the cost of their coverage.

In early 2011, they got word their insurance carrier was dissolving, and they were forced to seek new bids for coverage. "For a whole host of reasons, size of group, age, lack of real competition in the industry, we were faced with some very nasty options," Mike said. Pay high deductibles or operate their business at a net loss? Ask employees to contribute or eliminate raises? Thankfully, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Mike and Margaret received $10,500 in tax credits that offset the cost of providing coverage. "We were excited to realize how meaningful the health care reform bill would be for our employees as well as preserving our financial viability."

Emily, a college senior, has a chronic autoimmune disease called Behcet's Syndrome. She regularly sees two rheumatologists, an ophthalmologist, a dermatologist, an internist and other specialists, and will need treatment for the rest of her life. Before the Affordable Care Act, Emily worried that being diagnosed with a lifelong illness at such a young age would mean she would have to plan her future around where she would get her health insurance.

Now, because she can stay on her parent's insurance until she turns 26, by which time the new law will be fully implemented and she will have more health insurance options, Emily can look for the type of job she's always wanted as soon as she graduates. "When you're healthy, and when you're young, insurance doesn't really seem like it matters, and health doesn't really seem like it matters, because you have it," Emily said. "But when you're not healthy, insurance and access to care matters more than anything else."

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Gail didn't have health insurance when she was diagnosed with high-grade non-Hodgkins in March of 2010. No insurer would cover her once she got sick, and to pay for tests and treatment, Gail's doctor explained to her and Matt, that "you're either going to have to go into your retirement fund, or you're going to die."

After paying out of pocket for several months, Gail was accepted into the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, a temporary insurance plan created by the Affordable Care Act for high-risk patients like Gail who were previously denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. The coverage was affordable and saved the family from severe financial problems until Matt was able to add Gail to his new employer-provided insurance plan last year. Gail remains in good health today thanks to the care she received. Watch the video above to see Gail receive a surprise phone call from President Obama.

After her heart attack, Norma had trouble making ends meet: paying for her groceries, her medication and covering her co-pays for doctor's appointments and procedures often left her having to choose between seeing the doctor or putting it off. "What I usually had to do was change the doctor's appointments to go along with the finances at that time," she said. "It certainly made me very apprehensive and worried of course, and that affected my heart condition, so it was like a circle of events." After receiving her $250 Medicare rebate check in 2010, she didn't have to make those difficult choices any more. The rebate was a one-time payment, but thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors who fall into the prescription drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole" began receiving a 50 percent discount on their name-brand medications beginning in 2011.

Before the Affordable Care Act was passed, Kim had no health insurance. She and her husband were self-employed, and for decades, the family had always paid cash for all medical expenses and were still paying off some pretty significant bills. But when this active grandmother's back pain led her to an orthopedic surgeon who told her she needed spinal fusion that would cost at least $100,000, Kim started looking for insurance. Unfortunately this pre-existing condition meant she was not eligible for private plans, and the state plan had no available funds. When exploring her options, she learned about a federal program that would soon be available, and that she might qualify. The day applications for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan became available, Kim applied, and she and her husband were both accepted. Kim credits having this insurance with saving her husband's life when he had a heart attack earlier this year.

When Mary Beth was laid off in 2010, family finances were tight, but the Affordable Care Act provided some peace of mind for their 22-year-old daughter Allison. Instead of having to take on the additional expense of an purchasing an individual insurance policy after graduating from college, Allison will be able to stay on her father's plan until she turns 26. At that point, the Affordable Care Act will be fully implemented, and Allison will have access to a range of affordable insurance options.

At a young age, Natalie Hough beat the odds when she survived a heart attack while she was still in high school. But her health condition is chronic, and requires costly medicine and procedures. Because of this pre-existing condition, Natalie's parents -- who own a small business -- were concerned that she might never be able to get good insurance coverage once she went off their medical policy.

Provisions in the Affordable Care Act mean that Natalie can go to college and live as normal a life as her illness allows and come graduation, she will have access to the coverage and care she needs on her own plan. Natalie's mother is relieved because for years she worried that Natalie's choices would be limited by knowing that "I can't do that because I can't get insurance."

Jennifer's daughter Allison is 11 years old and has a rare genetic disorder called Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I). Allison's enzyme replacement therapy costs nearly $300,000 a year, and on top of that are surgeries and other procedures she needs. Her care is covered by her father's health insurance, but by 2010, Allison was close to hitting the policy's $2 million lifetime limit. Paying out of pocket for Allison's medication alone would have drained the family's savings in less than three months.

Thanks to The Affordable Care Act, lifetime limits on care have been banned, and Allison will be covered on her current plan for as long as she needs it. "Knowing that I'm going to be able to provide the medication she needs, and the health care she needs, is a huge burden lifted," Jennifer said. "We don't have to choose between living in our house, or selling it and buying medication, and that's a wonderful feeling."

When Cathy decided to start her own business 10 years ago, she knew it would be difficult to find health insurance because she has Lupus. "What I didn't know is that it would be impossible to purchase health insurance—that I would be denied over and over again for any kind of policy because of this pre-existing condition," Cathy said. After spending nearly 8 years without insurance, worrying about every ache and pain but still only visiting the doctor when absolutely necessary, she was able to purchase insurance through her state's high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions.

"Nothing is more important to the success of my business than my personal health," she says. "Without me working and paying the bills, my firm would close." And now, instead of having to negotiate with her doctor about the cost of a needed test or procedure, the Affordable Care Act will ensure she can get preventive services and screenings she needs each year.

Rick is a retired aircraft mechanic who enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and working on old cars. In 2010, he received a $250 Medicare donut hole rebate check that helped him pay for his prescription drugs. Beginning in 2011, seniors who fall into the prescription drug coverage gap began receiving a 50 percent discount on their name-brand medications, and that hole will be closed entirely in 2020 because of health care reform.

Jim Houser and his wife have owned an auto repair shop in Portland, Oregon for over 25 years, and retaining their employees and keeping them healthy is a priority for this couple. That's why Jim has always provided health insurance for his employees. But in the last ten years, Jim has been forced to contend with skyrocketing premium increases; in fact those premiums totaled more than 20 percent of his payroll. The Affordable Care Act gave Jim and small business owners like him immediate relief: The health reform law provides tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance for their employees. And small business owners are also benefiting from new tax credits. Jim says he received nearly $13,000 in tax credits last year, and saw his rates decrease by 3 percent.

Devon, 23, graduated from Pennsylvania State University in May of 2010. She has a full-time contract position working for a program in the state's Department of Public Welfare that licenses in-home personal care for adults. She enjoys working in health care very much-- enough that she's taking night classes to earn her master's in health care administration. But, because she is a contract employee, she doesn't get benefits, including health insurance.

Without the provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows her to stay on her parent's plan until she is 26, Devon would have had to consider leaving her job to get one that offers benefits, even if that meant leaving the field where she's hoping to build her career. Once she turns 26 and can no longer stay on her parents' plan, the new law will be fully implemented, and she'll have a variety of options to purchase affordable health insurance.

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Joyce has two children, ages 20 and 23. Joyce's 23-year-old daughter Emma is currently on her father's policy, and the family is relieved that she'll be to remain on it until she's 26. Without the Affordable Care Act, she would have lost her coverage at the end of 2011.

"We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right. Here, in this country, we shape our own destiny. That is what we do. That is who we are. That is what makes us the United States of America. And we have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care."
— President Barack Obama, March 23, 2010

Nitara Carswell plans to practice geriatric medicine in an underserved rural area when she finishes medical school. "Serving those less fortunate is a mission that I am passionate about fulfilling. I find it rewarding to provide quality care to the aging." Students to Service, a pilot program that provides loan repayment assistance to medical students (MDs and DOs) in exchange for a commitment to serve in an area that has a shortage of health professionals upon completion of a primary care residency program, was created as part of the Affordable Care Act, to make sure that all Americans have access to quality health care.

James was diagnosed with brain cancer in March of 2010. He thought losing his health insurance a few months later amounted to nothing less than a death sentence. No insurer would cover him and he had no idea how he would afford the prescriptions, doctor's visits, tests and treatments he needed--one of his prescription drugs alone cost $10,000 a week. "It was a huge struggle," he said. "When I started looking at every option possible, it just kept seeming like everything was a dead end."

When he discovered he could get coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, a huge burden was lifted. The insurance it offered was affordable, and more than that, James could continue treatment to battle his cancer.

Betsy started the King's English book store 35 years ago in the Salt Lake neighborhood and pays the full cost of health benefits for her employees, which she feels strongly about providing. With premium payments on the rise, she was terrified this cost would force her to close her business and lose the insurance that also covers her son who has special needs. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Betsy received tax credits that helped reduce her payroll costs by thousands of dollars. Betsy said the tax credits have made a huge difference to her business and its ability to survive.

Sandra is an insulin dependent diabetic who must frequently choose between prescription drugs and food. She received a $250 rebate check in 2010, a "welcome surprise" that helped pay for her medication after hitting the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole. The rebate was a one-time payment, and in 2011, seniors who fell into the donut hole began receiving a 50 percent discount on their name-brand medications. The Affordable Care Act makes changes to Medicare that will eliminate the prescription drug coverage gap altogether by 2020.

The need for health reform was obvious to Tracy when her family had to take drastic financial measures to pay thousands of dollars for surgery that her private insurance wouldn't cover. Today, her family of seven is benefitting from the new law. "Thanks to a provision that allows children to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26, I have two adult children on my health insurance plan, including my 22-year-old son and a 24-year-old son who is a father, attends graduate school and works part-time," she said. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, she said that her 24-year-old is able to support his son and his career path.

In 2008, Molly opened her homemade ice cream boutique. The business has since expanded to five locations across the Seattle area plus a roaming ice cream truck and has been featured as both one of the best ice cream shops in America, and one of the best Washington companies to work for. Molly is committed to covering 100% of her employees' healthcare premiums. In 2010, between full-time and part time workers, she qualified for about $11,300 to help pay healthcare costs and she is likely eligible for a $16,000 tax credit for 2011. Thanks in part to the savings from the Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit, in 2011 Molly created over 20 jobs, and she's planning to grow more in 2012.

Sam Hickman's son is 25, married, and before the Affordable Care Act was passed, uninsured. Thanks to a provision that allows children to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until they are 26, Sam is happy that he was able to add his son to his plan and get the peace of mind that comes with knowing his child will be protected if he gets sick or has an accident.

Tracy's son, Sami Wirtanen-DeBenedet, has Neurofibromatosis, a disorder that affects 1 in 3,000 children that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body. Because there is no cure for the condition itself, the only therapy for people with neurofibromatosis is a program of treatment by a team of specialists to manage symptoms or complications. Surgery may also be needed when the tumors compress organs or cause extreme discomfort. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, lifetime limits on carelike the one on Sami's plan that he was reaching -- have been banned. Now, Sami can continue receiving the coverage he needs to manage his health.

Farrah's oldest son has a form of Muscular Dystrophy called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (commonly referred to as SMA) which causes significant muscle weakness and worsens over time. By the time he was 4 years old, he had already reached $504,000 in benefits paid from an insurance plan that had a lifetime limit of $2 million. The Affordable Care Act banned lifetime limits, allowing Farrah's son to receive all the care and coverage he will need.