Â鶹ŮÓÅ

Beginning in January, more than 80 percent of workers currently eligible for part-time benefits within the Kansas state employee health plan will be eligible for full-time benefits under changes mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, establishes 30 hours as the threshold for full-time employment. Starting next year, large employers – those with 50 or more employees – will be required to offer health coverage to all full-time workers. The threshold for state employees to be considered "full-time" for health insurance purposes in Kansas previously was 36 hours per week. (Marso, 12/2)

A Texas doctor's challenge to President Obama's health care overhaul is before a federal appeals court in New Orleans. Tuesday's arguments at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals center on the contention that the law is unconstitutional because it imposes a tax — and all tax bills must originate in the House. The lawsuit contends that the law originated in the Senate. (McGill, 12/2)

When the Affordable Care Act rolled out last year, Californians enrolled in both Covered California and expanded Medi-Cal in high numbers. But there are still millions without insurance. Undocumented people don’t qualify for Obamacare benefits. Many others still find coverage too expensive or face other obstacles to enrolling. One of those people is Leaburn Alexander. I meet up with him at 6 a.m. as he is finishing his shift as the night janitor at a hotel near the San Francisco Airport. He clocks out just in time to catch the hotel’s shuttle back to SFO, where he will catch a bus. (Morehouse, 12/3)