If the thought of finding health insurance makes your blood pressure rise, it’s understandable.
Many insurance companies are constantly readjusting to market demands by adding new products and even “taking old plans off the market”, said Nate Purpura, vice president of consumer affairs at eHealth.com, an online health insurance exchange based in Mountain View, Calif.
KAMU has established an enrollment assistance website – coverks.org – to connect Kansans with a Cover KansasNavigator that can personally assist them in answering questions. A dozen states and the District have created separate insurance marketplaces under the law. The marketplace in Colorado is Connect for Health Colorado.
In order to attend ISU as a full-time student, 12 credit hours or more, health insurance is required, however for now part-time students are not held to the same requirement.
Individuals who don’t enroll in health insurance by January 31, 2016 will face tax fines in 2017. The Obamacare penaltyfor being uninsured will rise in 2016, to the greater of $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of taxable household income.
“I think it’s absolutely stupid”, said Andy Peterson, a student studying history at ISU who only attends part-time because of the additional fees and requirements for full-time students. Health plans offer different combinations of coverage and cost. In addition, the number of users contacting a Spanish-speaking representative dropped by about 50%, from about 102,000 of such individuals last year to 52,000 this year (Washington Post, 11/12). CHP Plus is health coverage for pregnant women and children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Many preventative services, such as immunizations, colon cancer screenings, mammograms and Pap tests are covered at no cost.
While a few health care systems have jumped into the business of sponsoring their own health insurance plans, so called “provider-led” plans are still rare, according to a report by Kaiser Health News (KHN). Other plans have higher monthly premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.
What if I’m already enrolled in health insurance? If you are a household member who is not applying for coverage, documentation will not be necessary. Although you can compare health insurance plans and enroll online, the process can be complicated.
All health plans on the marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and coverage can not be denied for individuals with a pre-existing health condition. Insurance brokers also can advise you on your insurance options; they do not charge for this service. Health coverage guides are available at the Northwest Colorado VNA. She will be available from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays in the Grisham Room until the enrollment period ends after December 15.
Date: November 14, 2015