Health Insurance Marketplace Opens November 1

11/1/2017

Grandview Medical Center again offering free application assistance

If you need help comparing plans or filling out an application on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Grandview Medical Center is once again offering free assistance during Open Enrollment, November 1st – December 15th, 2017.

Appointments may be made with the hospital’s certified assisters by calling (205) 971-4761.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, and this year’s Open Enrollment marks the fifth annual campaign to extend healthcare coverage to citizens who would otherwise be uninsured. More than 12.2 million people enrolled in Marketplace plans for 2017.

Open enrollment for healthcare coverage:
Nov. 1, 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017
To make an appointment for application assistance:
(205) 971-4761

News of several large insurers either reducing their participation in the upcoming Marketplace, or exiting it altogether, has spurred concern about rising premiums (monthly fees) and higher deductibles (predetermined amounts of healthcare expense an individual pays before health plan coverage “kicks in”.)

“There are always questions concerning changes to premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits before Open Enrollment launches each year,” explains Drew Mason, Chief Executive Officer of Grandview Medical Center. “This will always be the case as insurers enter and exit different markets. But what is consistent, year-to-year, is the value of the Marketplace. Millions of people are able to sign up for insurance who otherwise wouldn’t have access to care, or who would face a financial crisis due to medical bills.”

Majority of enrollees will receive assistance

To help make health insurance affordable, the government uses household income to determine who is eligible for financial assistance. This aid might include advanced tax credits to help pay for premiums, or discounts on co-pays and deductibles. As in past years, a majority of enrollees are expected to qualify for some type of financial support in 2018. Individuals who are re-enrolling on the marketplace are encouraged to re-evaluate and compare plans, as the lowest-cost option can change from year to year.

“I think this is where our certified assisters add so much value,” says Mason. “They know how to explain the pros and cons of each option, and they carefully screen each person to make sure any subsidies toward premiums, or any discounts available for deductibles or co-pays, are accessed.”

All health plans on the Marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and coverage cannot be denied for individuals with a pre-existing health condition. Some of the health benefits include free preventive care and wellness services; doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital and emergency department care, lab services, pediatric services, and mental and behavioral health treatment.

Penalties
Individuals who are eligible for health insurance who do not purchase coverage not only pay a penalty when filing their tax return, but they also forfeit financial help with healthcare expenses throughout the year. The penalty is either 2.5% of family income or a predetermined flat rate, whichever is higher.

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