COP 24/7 Special
Health Exchanges 101: What you need to Know and Why
As the election clock ticks down to the wire, one of the most significant measures to come through the Obama administration was the Affordable Healthcare Act ( ACA) commonly referred to as "Obamacare." This mandate has already started some implementation with more it roll out come 2014 and beyond. What continues to amaze me is the fact that some folks for some odd reason think that this will be "free" insurance of some sort. Exactly what will be created are "exchanges" that will allow citizens to search for lowered cost insurance products. For those who demonstrate that they are in need there will be subsidies available meanwhile others may access medicaid or other health care outlets. Let's be clear, there will be some deductibles to pay, premiums and other associated cost including a tiered "penalty fee" for those who decide not to participate in the programs. Luckily Arkansas is well underway on formulating plans and making decisions on operations and rules of the program. Unfortunately as meetings have been taking place, it seems that despite some attempts, organizers have not seen an influx of those "uninsured" persons or other stakeholders whom should voice their observations about the "nuts and bolts" of the proposed exchanges. One key element of the exchanges that citizens should be concerned are the "essential health benefits." These benefits will be the core services ranging from mental health services to home health providers. Currently the EHB's of Arkansas' plan are most likely under review and ultimately will be released as November deadlines loom for states to confirm their status. At this point, Arkansas appears to actually be ahead of other states in this process but all is not confirmed due to "ebbing and flowing" of federal instructions. COP 24/7 has learned that in January 2013 there will be a "request for applications" for local community based organizations to apply to be apart of the navigating system. For your consideration, this forum offers the following as a means to continuing to clarify what's involved with "exchanges" and how they could affect you! Stay tune to this platform for the latest breaking news and updates.
Health Exchanges 101: What you need to Know and Why
As the election clock ticks down to the wire, one of the most significant measures to come through the Obama administration was the Affordable Healthcare Act ( ACA) commonly referred to as "Obamacare." This mandate has already started some implementation with more it roll out come 2014 and beyond. What continues to amaze me is the fact that some folks for some odd reason think that this will be "free" insurance of some sort. Exactly what will be created are "exchanges" that will allow citizens to search for lowered cost insurance products. For those who demonstrate that they are in need there will be subsidies available meanwhile others may access medicaid or other health care outlets. Let's be clear, there will be some deductibles to pay, premiums and other associated cost including a tiered "penalty fee" for those who decide not to participate in the programs. Luckily Arkansas is well underway on formulating plans and making decisions on operations and rules of the program. Unfortunately as meetings have been taking place, it seems that despite some attempts, organizers have not seen an influx of those "uninsured" persons or other stakeholders whom should voice their observations about the "nuts and bolts" of the proposed exchanges. One key element of the exchanges that citizens should be concerned are the "essential health benefits." These benefits will be the core services ranging from mental health services to home health providers. Currently the EHB's of Arkansas' plan are most likely under review and ultimately will be released as November deadlines loom for states to confirm their status. At this point, Arkansas appears to actually be ahead of other states in this process but all is not confirmed due to "ebbing and flowing" of federal instructions. COP 24/7 has learned that in January 2013 there will be a "request for applications" for local community based organizations to apply to be apart of the navigating system. For your consideration, this forum offers the following as a means to continuing to clarify what's involved with "exchanges" and how they could affect you! Stay tune to this platform for the latest breaking news and updates.
Affordable Insurance Exchanges
Affordable Insurance Exchanges are designed to make buying health coverage
easier and more affordable. Starting in 2014, Exchanges will allow individuals
and small businesses to compare health plans, get answers to questions, find out
if they are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs
like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and enroll in a health plan
that meets their needs.
An Exchange Can Help You:
- Look for and compare private health plans.
- Get answers to questions about your health coverage options.
- Find out if you’re eligible for health programs or tax credits that make coverage more affordable.
- Enroll in a health plan that meets your needs.
What This Means for You
- For individuals and families, the Exchange is a single place where you can enroll in private or public health insurance coverage.
- For small employers, the Exchange is a way to level the playing field, where you have better choice of plans and insurers at a lower cost, the way larger employers do now.
For More Information
- Find detailed technical and regulatory information on Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
- HealthCare Blog: See recent posts about Exchanges.
- Fact Sheets: Find the latest information on Exchange implementation.
- Learn more about Exchanges and Essential Health Benefits.
- Report: States Moving Forward to Implement Affordable Insurance Exchanges (PDF - 116 KB).
- Use our interactive FAQ tool to find answers to insurance coverage-related questions or ask your own at answers.healthcare.gov.
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