What does health care act mean for consumers?

Now that you've got it, what do you do with it?

The Affordable Care Act will be a game changer when it comes to how insurance is bought and sold.

It's now about making it work.

"If everybody does pick up insurance and pays in even if they get a minimal policy it should make rates drop that's how insurance works."

Suzanne Thompson owns Health Plan Headquarters in Overlea.

Her company helps people navigate the vast array of health plan options and find the best prices for their families needs.

She says when the mandate of coverage goes into effect in 2014 it will open up more plans for low income consumers and provide for more subsidies.

Thompson says experience has shown her that most folks who don't have health insurance isn’t because they don't want it.

 “A lot of people who don't pick up health insurance is not because they have pre existing conditions it's because it's expensive we work with people all day and every day and their right in that middle they make too much to qualify for assistance but they don't make enough that they can pay the premiums." Thompson says.

Several provisions are already in place.

Parents can keep their children on their policy through college, preventative services such as mammograms and health screenings are free.

You can't be denied coverage if you have a pre existing condition and you can't be dropped because you’re sick.

There are also more discounts for seniors on Medicare for prescription drugs.

There are also some things you may not know about.

All chain restaurants will be required to post the calories counts in their foods, doctors will have to report gifts from medical and drug companies.

What you can consider medical expenses for flexible spending accounts is being tightened up and the amount you can save cut in half.

And if you tan there is a 10 percent tax on using a tanning booth.

But it’s the mandate portion of the law that made today's ruling so critical.

Thompson says a fully funded program is the only way the affordable care act can work

But says feds now have to figure out how it works and the costs.

"I think insurance is going to change you know there's opportunity I think that an employer group as we no it that's gong to change." Thompson says.

Thompson says it will be more important than ever for consumers to pay more attention to their health care than ever before.

I talked with the president of the Better Business bureau Angie Barnett this afternoon and she says there will be a need to watch out for scams.

She says especially those internet offers that are on the side of the screen when you use a search engine or Facebook.

She says many of those ads just want to take advantage of people and take their money.