 [ Symptoms ] currently i do not have health insurance because i have advanced stage copd and can not work thus i have no income how will the new health insurance laws affect me [ Disease ] you will no longer be turned down for coverage because of your copd and are guaranteed insurance starting january 1 2014 without income it is likely you will qualify for medicaid however not all states are expanding their programs to cover people who were previously not eligible i would suggest you begin searching the marketplace to get a sense of your options you can do that at healthcare gov