reporter: 300 bucks. it s a big expense for dan, and he s relatively healthy, but he s self-employed and doesn t want to attempt fate by living without insurance. growing up with a father who was a cancer patient, i definitely learned you have to have insurance. you know, whether you like it or not, you do have to have it. are you all done with your banana? are you ready to go work? reporter: amy is a stay-at-home mom in suburban milwaukee. her son, spencer, has severe autism. you ready? it s time to work reporter: he s covered through a government program. bye. reporter: but no health insurer will cover amy and her husband, chris. they do have a steady income. they pay their bills. but they were rejected because of past health issues, depression, and being overweight. it s very hard to get approved due to preexisting conditions. reporter: as things stand now, amy worries that if she gets hurt, it could bankrupt her family. something as simple as spraining my ankl
none of that s covered right now. none of it. so we would be billed. and you know, that s just going to add to the debt that we already have. so that s what scares me. reporter: amy and dan share a lot in common. they live five minutes down the road from each other, and they both need to buy their own health insurance. but when it comes to obamacare, the similarities end. starting next year, everyone will legally be required to have health insurance. so thanks to obamacare, companies will have to sell her a policy. and the rules say that it has to be affordable. obamacare! exactly. reporter: now, dan, on the other hand you re fine. you re fine. reporter: he s young and fit. and those things keep his payments low. he s an inexpensive risk. but that s about to change. like we re going to have no summer. reporter: with obamacare, insurance companies will have to raise rates on the young and healthy. that s to balance the expense of covering new and sicker customers like am
dan runs tease hair studio. it s in the trendy bay view neighborhood in milwaukee. he estimates it takes about six of these hair cuts to pay his monthly medical insurance bill. how long do you think you want to go in the long run? reporter: 300 bucks is a big expense for dan and he s relatively healthy and he s self-employed and doesn t want to tempt faith. having grown up with a father who had cancer. reporter: amy is a stay at home mom in suburban milwaukee. her son, spencer, has severe autism. are you ready? it s time to work. reporter: he s covered through a government program. bye. reporter: but no health insurer will cover amy and her husband, chris. they do have a steady income. they pay their bills but were rejected because of past health
issues. depression and being overweight. hard to get approved due to pre-existing conditions. reporter: amy worries if she gets hurt it could bankrupt her family. something as simple as spraining my ankle. none of it is covered right now, none of it. we would be billed and that is just going to add to the debt that we already have. that s what scares me. reporter: amy and dan share a lot in common. they live five minutes down the road from each other and they both need to buy their own health insurance. when it comes to obama care, the similarities end. starting next year, everyone will legally be required to have health insurance. so, thanks to obama care, companies will have to sell her a policy and the rules say it has to be affordable. obama care! exactly. reporter: now, dan on the other hand you re fine. reporter: he s young and fit. and those things keep his payments low. he s an inexpensive risk, but that s about to change.