Originally published March 24, 2014 at 5:35 AM | Page modified March 24, 2014 at 1:10 PM

The new health care law helps some people, hurts others and confuses almost everyone. Hoping to simplify things a bit, The Associated Press asked its Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus followers for their real-life questions about the program and the problems they're running into as the March 31 deadline approaches to sign up for coverage in new insurance markets.

Two of their questions and AP's answers.

THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND ME

Q: "Is it really true that the IRS can't do anything to you if you refuse to get insurance and also refuse to pay the penalty?" -- David Myer, 46, a consulting geophysicist in Encinitas, Calif.

A: You could say the IRS has one hand tied behind its back here. But that still leaves the other hand. The tax collectors don't have nearly as many tools to go after insurance avoiders as it has to enforce tax laws. It can, however, dip into people's tax refunds to collect the penalty for those who don't get health insurance. Most filers qualify for a tax refund, so they would be exposed to that collection tactic. Beyond that, it can send insistent letters, and who wants to get those?

Elizabeth Maresca, a former IRS trial attorney, told the AP that an unfriendly letter about an outstanding health insurance penalty probably will have much the same effect as one about tax arrears. "Most people pay because they're scared, and I don't think that's going to change," she said.

That said, the IRS can't seize bank accounts, dock wages, charge interest on unpaid penalties or apply criminal or civil sanctions to force people to obtain health coverage.

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CAN I JOIN THE EXCHANGE?

Read more here:

Q&A: Who can shop online for health coverage?