With the Affordable Care Act facing its first major deadline Monday, here's what consumers should know about enrolling for health coverage.
•When do I need to sign up? You have until March 31 to enroll in health coverage and avoid paying a tax penalty. For coverage that starts Jan. 1, you need to enroll by Dec. 23.
•When do I need to pay my first month's premium? You must submit a payment for the first month's premium by Jan. 10 to ensure you have coverage effective Jan. 1. In future months, consumers must still pay their first month's premium before their coverage takes effect.
•How can I be sure I've signed up for coverage? Most insurers are sending out welcome letters to their members as soon as they get confirmation of enrollment. Others will call new members. But because of problems with how the federal website transmits data to insurers, along with the tight time frame between Monday and the start of next year, federal officials have advised consumers to call their insurance company after signing up to confirm enrollment.
•I liked my old coverage. May I keep it? In some cases, yes, but often with a double-digit rate hike. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Health Alliance will both offer plans once slated to be canceled because of new requirements under the law. Humana is offering renewals for small group plans. Aetna will not offer old plans.
•The federal website tells me I'm eligible for Medicaid, but that can't be right. What do I do? Illinois said this week that thousands of people may have been incorrectly referred to the state Medicaid program by the federal website. The state is advising them to start over. Individuals who make less than about $16,000 a year and families of four earning less than $32,500 qualify for the program, run in a partnership between the state and federal government. But because of a glitch in the federal website, some of the 30,000 Illinoisans who were deemed eligible for Medicaid could have been referred in error. Those people should go to getcoveredillinois.gov and complete the screening tool. If they're sent to healthcare.gov, they should create a new account using a different email address and submit a new application.
•Where can I find help? Start at getcoveredillinois.gov or call its help desk at 866-311-1119. The website also has information on where to find in-person help nearest your neighborhood. To apply for a new private insurance plan, go to healthcare.gov or call the federal hotline at 800-318-2596. You can also get help through an insurance broker.
— Peter Frost
•When do I need to sign up? You have until March 31 to enroll in health coverage and avoid paying a tax penalty. For coverage that starts Jan. 1, you need to enroll by Dec. 23.
•When do I need to pay my first month's premium? You must submit a payment for the first month's premium by Jan. 10 to ensure you have coverage effective Jan. 1. In future months, consumers must still pay their first month's premium before their coverage takes effect.
•How can I be sure I've signed up for coverage? Most insurers are sending out welcome letters to their members as soon as they get confirmation of enrollment. Others will call new members. But because of problems with how the federal website transmits data to insurers, along with the tight time frame between Monday and the start of next year, federal officials have advised consumers to call their insurance company after signing up to confirm enrollment.
•I liked my old coverage. May I keep it? In some cases, yes, but often with a double-digit rate hike. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Health Alliance will both offer plans once slated to be canceled because of new requirements under the law. Humana is offering renewals for small group plans. Aetna will not offer old plans.
•The federal website tells me I'm eligible for Medicaid, but that can't be right. What do I do? Illinois said this week that thousands of people may have been incorrectly referred to the state Medicaid program by the federal website. The state is advising them to start over. Individuals who make less than about $16,000 a year and families of four earning less than $32,500 qualify for the program, run in a partnership between the state and federal government. But because of a glitch in the federal website, some of the 30,000 Illinoisans who were deemed eligible for Medicaid could have been referred in error. Those people should go to getcoveredillinois.gov and complete the screening tool. If they're sent to healthcare.gov, they should create a new account using a different email address and submit a new application.
•Where can I find help? Start at getcoveredillinois.gov or call its help desk at 866-311-1119. The website also has information on where to find in-person help nearest your neighborhood. To apply for a new private insurance plan, go to healthcare.gov or call the federal hotline at 800-318-2596. You can also get help through an insurance broker.
— Peter Frost