Most Californians will find that federal changes to health policy has either already affected their California health insurance, or will in the near future. The Affordable Care Act has added several new provisions as well as opened insurability to more people. For many, these changes will add welcome improvement and lower cost. For some, they may find their higher incomes mean higher prices.

Californians with low-income qualify for Medi-Cal, the statewide Medicaid program. This is open for U.S. citizens living in California as well as most legal-status immigrants. A major improvement to this program includes eliminating denial of services for non-payment of co-pay. Additional improvements include lower rates and added medical services.

While several provisions of the Affordable Care Act have already gone into effect, and some are slated to come in the future. Some of those laws, yet to pass but already scheduled, are intended to further improve care and make insurance more affordable. Some scheduled changes have been met with serious controversy. One of the most controversial changes is the penalty for being uninsured. Many feel that forcing insurance is an infringement of rights.

The Affordable Care Act, which is commonly referred to as 'ObamaCare' has as many skeptics as it does supporters. In fact, it is no doubt the most debated issue in the U.S. Many small businesses (some reports say as many as 90%) say that they have no plans of extending healthcare benefits to their employees. Regardless of new incentives and tax breaks, they maintain the stance that it is simply not affordable.

Other major issues to the plan involve those in higher income brackets feeling that they are being left to cover the cost for those with lesser incomes. For example, a change that many consider unfair is a Medicare tax increase set for 2013, this only affects those making $200,000 or more a year. Many Californians will fall into this bracket.

Medium to high income households will feel the biggest penalties for being uninsured. While this is obviously a point of contention for some, many Californians feel increased taxes and penalties are a small price to pay for a healthier state.

By 2014 insurance providers will be banned from denying coverage. New health policy will also begin holding people accountable for their lack of insurance. 2016 will bring additional long term care benefits as well. California health insurance, along with the rest of the nation, will see considerable change from now to 2018. It's estimated that within 2 years California will see 94% of its people insured.

Whether the opinion is good, bad or indifferent, Californians will eventually feel the change in their healthcare and California health insurance.