Haven’t thought about the health care law for a while? Now’s the time. Passed in 2010, the law requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a fine. While many Americans get health coverage through their employers, starting Nov. 15 consumers who currently have insurance through the federal or state online marketplaces, or exchanges, set up by the law can reenroll. In addition, people who still need health insurance can sign up. Subsidies are available to help many people afford coverage, and some states have expanded their Medicaid programs as part of the law. Last year the federal website, healthcare.gov, as well as some state-run websites, experienced severe technical difficulties, frustrating consumers trying to sign up for the exchanges. Nonetheless, more than 7 million people bought insurance plans in the exchanges and about 8.7 million signed up for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 2015 exchange enrollment will grow to 13 million and the increase in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment will rise to 11 million, but the Department of Health and Human Services projects that exchange enrollment next year will be under 9.9 million. This time around, federal and state officials have promised easier-to-use, streamlined applications. Federal officials say healthcare.gov is undergoing testing to make it better able to handle high demand. Here’s what you need to know for the coming enrollment period: kaiserhealthnews.org/news/consumer-guide-health-law/
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 15:00:02 +0000
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