As the Affordable Care Act heads into its second year, the state of Idaho has created its own health exchange portal. This year, Idahoans without an employee-provided plan or who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid can visityourhealthidaho.org to start shopping for plans. For those who want coverage to begin by Jan. 1, 2015, applications and purchases must be completed by Dec. 15. The current deadline for obtaining coverage in Idaho is Feb. 15, 2015.
But while the Affordable Care Act makes having insurance a requirement for all, some local healthcare providers have said that the new state insurance exchange will now make buying insurance a little bit more complicated. This is possibly because Your Health Idaho is now working in partnership with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. For instance, once an enrollee submits an application for insurance, it will take anywhere from two to 10 days for the state to decide whether they’re eligible to purchase a plan.
Rubi Valdez, the community health coordinator at Teton Valley Health Care, is available for free consultations by phone, email or an in-person visit to walk anyone through the process of enrolling with a health plan, but cannot legally give an official recommendation for which plan to pick. She said it’s important for those who are trying to enroll to being the process as early as possible.
“If we do verify you and we get through the information to be able to pick a plan, you have to wait to be able to shop for your plan,” Valdez said. “People should be aware they may have to come in twice.”
Alternatively, those looking for plans can visit with an insurance broker—who offer free services—or navigate the online system themselves.
Going without an insurance plan is now punishable by an annual tax penalty, which rose from $95 per adult last year to $325 this year.
For those who have had address or name changes in the last year, the hospital’s marketing specialist, Lisa Newcomb, said that the health care system likely won’t recognize their identity. In this case, it’s necessary for an applicant to fill out and send in the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare assistance application, in addition to the necessary paperwork to purchase coverage.
AJ Argyle, a health insurance broker for Idaho Falls-based American Insurance Service, said helping people sign up for insurance has been more challenging this year.
“You essentially have to do the same thing twice,” Argyle said. “It’s been more cumbersome than it was with the feds.”
But though the system may be complicated to navigate, Valdez said the overall goal is a good one.
“I’ve had a lot of people who now have insurance who have had surgeries they couldn’t have for years,” she said. “They’re able to be seen by a provider and get their medical issues taken care of.”
Anne Loyola, the marketing director at Teton Valley Health Care, encouraged people to ask for help in navigating the insurance maze.
“We’re in the health care industry and we [even] find this confusing,” she said. “That’s why we encourage people to find certified assistance.”
Date: December 2, 2014