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HELENA- President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in March, 2010. Now it's one of the most politically charged issues the U.S. is facing. Montana's News Station is taking an in-depth look at the Act and how it's affecting Montana in a four part series called "Eye on Health Care."

"Absolutely the majority of the Affordable Care Act focuses on insurance reform. But many of those reforms were needed and are going to make a huge and positive difference in people's lives," Montana's Insurance Commissioner Monica Lindeen says.

According to the Congressional Budget Office it'll also make a difference in people's wallets.

The non-partisan federal agency estimates people will pay 10 to 13% more for their health insurance in 2016 than they would if the health reform law had not been passed.

The reason for higher premium prices is that the Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to expand their coverage. Meanwhile, they also have to slash administrative expenses.

Montana Senator Jason Priest (R - Red Lodge) says it's an equation that makes it difficult to do business.

"The government has told an insurance company what product you can and cannot provide. Well typically when government does that it increases the cost of something. We've all heard about the $3 screws the $15 toilet flappers. This is what happens when government comes in and tells companies exactly what products they have to provide," Priest says.

The Affordable Care Act allows for more competition in the insurance industry.

Helena attorney and former Insurance Commissioner John Morrison is working with the Montana Health Cooperative to apply for a federally subsidized low-interest loan to start a member owned insurance company.

The Affordable Care act provides for the loans in order to increase competition.

"Montana is one of the states where we don't have very many companies occupying most of the health insurance market," Morrison says.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana dominates the industry as 60% of Montanans with major medical insurance have policies through Blue Cross.

The second and third largest companies New West Health Services and Allegiance Benefits Plan Management claim a significantly smaller part of the insurance market. 12% of Montanans with major medical insurance have a policy through New West, and 10% have a policy through Allegiance.

And with a proposal in the works to sell a major portion of New West's business to Blue Cross, it means the market will become even less competitive.

No one disputes under the new law more Montanans will have health insurance. The division occurs when people start talking about how much this will cost taxpayers, and how much it will cost policy holders.