ObamaCare is here! Everything you need to know

The health insurance exchanges are open, government shutdown be damned

Obamacare
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn))

Today is the first day of ObamaCare. Specifically, it's the day that the Affordable Care Act's new health insurance exchanges are open for business.

Yes, despite the drama over the government shutdown, the exchanges will remain open. And yes, despite what you may have heard about the death of democracy, ObamaCare will mainly involve Americans going online and picking a plan from a menu of health care options provided by private insurance companies.

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Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.