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Affordable Care Act takes full effect

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The president's controversial Affordable Care Act is now in full force with more than 2 million people covered starting Wednesday under the act also referred to as Obamacare.

The new year has a new meaning for Tracy Morgan. She has health coverage under the ACA without worry of a pre-existing condition leaving her without insurance.

"It means that if anything happens to me. I won't be dropped from a policy," said Morgan.

In 2010, she lost coverage when the company she worked for filed for bankruptcy, a year after her husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. With the forecast calling for costly treatments, getting covered seemed impossible.

"I was just distraught," she said.

She received coverage through a state-run program and became an advocate for healthcare reform. North Carolina was an early adopter of the Affordable Care Act.

There is concern on whether the government-ran insurance marketplace will be a success.

Many people are skeptical the rollout will be smooth sailing after a botched online rollout and confusion around shifting deadlines for enrolling.

People were still able to be covered starting today if they hadn't paid their premium.

Most insurers extended the deadline to pay to Jan. 10.

Anyone who signs up between now and Jan. 15 will receive coverage Feb. 1. The Affordable Care Act requires individuals to sign up for health insurance by March 31or pay a fine.

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