Tag: obamacare

Affordable Care Act, Education, Health Reform, Medicaid, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Uncategorized

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Education & Outreach

ShannonMace

This weekend I had the opportunity to discuss the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes and Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual disABILITY Services Commissioner Arthur Evans on Philadelphia radio show Philly Speaks on 100.3 FM. The show gave us a chance to demystify “Obamacare” and what it really means for individuals. A few of the key messages that were expressed include:

  • Getting insurance coverage is essential for many individual and societal reasons.
  • The new Health Insurance Marketplace provides an opportunity for individuals to purchase health insurance on a more “level playing field” than in the past.
  • Through the Marketplace individuals could receive financial assistance to purchase coverage.
  • The Marketplace will screen individuals for public and private health insurance options and financial assistance to purchase insurance.
  • Individuals with behavioral health needs (mental health and substance use challenges) will have an increased opportunity to access services due to the Affordable Care Act’s provisions.
  • Expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania is a “no brainer” and will be a huge missed opportunity if the state administration does not act soon.
  • Healthcare.gov, localhelp.healthcare.gov, and 1-800-318-2596 are valuable resources for individuals to learn more about their options and places to get in-person assistance.

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Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Exchange, Health Reform

Health Insurance Marketplace | Help!

ShannonMace

Starting tomorrow many individuals who have never purchased health insurance before will be able to do so through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act. If you will be using the Marketplace or assisting others there are many resources available. Below is a list of resources that I find most helpful:

1. Find Local Help from Healthcare.gov: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/

  • Simply enter your zip code and you will be given a list of local organizations that can help individuals.
  • Results can be narrowed by organizations that administer Medicaid or CHIP or that have language access capability.

2. Helping Consumers Understand and Use Health Insurance in 2014 from the Institute of Medicine: http://iom.edu/~/media/Files/Perspectives-Files/2013/Discussion-Papers/BPH-Helping-Consumers-Understand.pdf

  • This 16 page report clearly explains the Health Insurance Marketplace and other changes occurring due to the Affordable Care Act.
  • Written in simple language and contains helpful graphs/charts/illustrations.
  • Very useful for anyone who anticipates helping individuals with the Marketplace.

3. Subsidy Calculator from Kaiser Family Foundation: http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/

  • Interactive tool allows individuals to enter their income information to find out if they qualify for a tax subsidy or tax credit to purchase health insurance in the Marketplace.

4. How do I get an exemption from the fee for not having health coverage? from Healthcare.gov:  https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions/

  • Provides easy-to-understand information about the exemptions that exist to the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act.
  • Explains that an exemption exists for individuals in states that do not expand Medicaid eligibility. Individuals that would otherwise become eligible will not face a penalty for not having coverage beginning in 2014.