A Guide to Enrolling in the Maryland Insurance Marketplace (and other states)

Here are my thoughts on some of the best documents I have seen which guide folks in preparing for enrollment.Please share with others.

1) For those who want to check out what Maryland offers through its new health insurance market, I recommend the following

Visit their website http://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/  
and/or call their hotline 1-855-MHC(642)-8572  M-F, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. right now. Longer hours on 10/1 and after. 

See their checklist for key information you will need to have when you enroll  http://ow.ly/p26rn

For more local assistance including in person assistance, see the 6 regional connectors within Maryland at
http://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/resources/consumer-assistance/


For each regional connector, you will find a calendar of events which indicates where they will be located on particular days.

2) For additional information or for other states , either see your state health marketplace (see the HHS site below for that information) and/or see this video from HHS

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=LYCJvp%2B0L%2BckhMtPVk%2BVjlLvN8%2BPTX9B

and fill out HHS' questionnaire

https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-answers/#step-1

The Healthcare.gov website is a good place for lots of info, especially if you are in a different state.

https://www.healthcare.gov

3) The latest (November) issue of Consumer Reports which came out just a couple of days ago has a very good package.  What is particularly useful is their quality ratings of all the plans in the U.S.

 4) If anyone successfully enrolls in the Maryland Insurance marketplace on October 1, and are willing to talk with reporters, please let me know as soon as possible.  If you are planning to do so, please contact me beforehand to setup arrangements.

5)  If willing to serve as a volunteer to support the Affordable Care Act, please contact Tony Hausner thausner@gmail.com  We have a variety of ways in mind that folks can help and we are putting together a more complete description of those activities. 


6) See also my previous blogs, especially

http://tinyurl.com/md4bj7c
 
How Buying Insurance Will Change Under Obamacare; New Whitehouse website: This is Obamacare; + more

 

How Buying Insurance Will Change Under Obamacare; New Whitehouse website: This is Obamacare; + more

1) How Buying Insurance Will Change Under Obamacare

From Policy Insights series this latest post  (http://tinyurl.com/nd8twxf ), the Kaiser Family Foundation's Larry Levitt, Karen Pollitz, Gary Claxton and Anthony Damico discuss how the process of buying insurance on the individual market will change under Obamacare. 

 2) New Whitehouse website: This is Obamacare

http://www.thisisobamacare.com/

This is a new website that does a nice job of portraying the advantages for the U.S. and for each state.   Provides an overview of benefits and what the GOP is trying to take away.

3) Consumer Reports November issue has lots of very useful information. Including quality rankings of health plans in each State.

4) Volunteer for Obamacare

If willing to serve as a volunteer to support Obamacare, please contact Tony Hausner thausner@gmail.com  301-587-6943. 

 

How eight lives would be affected by the health law; + Are you ready for October 1

1) How eight lives would be affected by the health law

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/health-care-profiles/index.html

2) Are you ready for Oct. 1? Make sure you have your Social Security number (or document numbers for legal immigrants) handy before you start the enrollment process. See the full checklist. http://ow.ly/p26y6

3) Here are 10 ways you can get ready for the Marketplace.

4) From Maryland Health Connection
  
You may now qualify for Medicaid even if you’ve never been able to before, or you may be eligible for reduced premiums and/or lower insurance costs. Look up your household size and income to see if you might qualify.  http://ow.ly/oZ1nQ

Very useful for those who are considering enrolling.  But even if not eligible for these programs,  program has benefits for many.  


 

KFF: Updated Health Reform Calculator Now Provides ZIP Code-Specific Premium and Tax Subsidy Results As Open Enrollment Approaches

1) From Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) 
Updated Health Reform Calculator Now Provides ZIP Code-Specific Premium and Tax Subsidy Results As Open Enrollment Approaches

This should be a very useful tool that the Health Exchanges can use, as can individuals and families, etc.

See

http://smtp01.kff.org/t/38886/430110/42965/0/


See other KFF

Consumer Resources

2)

Obamacare Premiums Report Shows Low Prices For Uninsured With Wide Variation

from Huffington Post

Here is an article from the white house on this as well

Starting Tuesday, 6 in 10 uninsured Americans can get health coverage for $100/month or less —> http://at.wh.gov/pd8be  

 

 

Correcting Five Myths About Medicaid

Correcting Five Myths About Medicaid

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=4023 

This brief report corrects five of these myths by providing the corresponding reality for each.

• Reality: Medicaid Is Efficient.

• Reality: States Have Considerable Freedom to Design Their Own Programs.

• Reality: Medicaid Beneficiaries Have Much Better Access to Health Care Than the Uninsured.

• Reality: Health Reform’s Medicaid Expansion Is a Very Good Deal for States.

• Reality: Medicaid Beneficiaries Generally Don’t Have Access to Private Coverage.

 

Marketing of New Health Insurance Marketplaces; Coverage affordable?

1) Kaiser FF 

An Early Look at Branding and Marketing of New Health Insurance Marketplaces

http://t.co/s74ntfiqif

2) Some Say Obamacare’s ‘Affordable’ Coverage Isn’t Affordable For Them

http://t.co/ZmP1FWCcc8

Others say it is. 

Why A Gov't Shutdown Won't Stop The Health Law's Implementation

from Kaiser health news

Why A Gov't Shutdown Won't Stop The Health Law's Implementation

http://tinyurl.com/k2yuqqf

Wash Post

Obamacare starts next week, whether the government shuts down or not

http://tinyurl.com/qbhagpf 

 

 

Commonwealth Fund: Take a Guided Tour of the New Health Insurance Marketplaces with Our Interactive Navigator - Excellent Guide

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Resources/2013/Guided-Tour-of-the-New-Health-Insurance-Marketplaces.aspx

If the Price is Right, Most Uninsured--Even Young Invincibles--Likely to Consider New Health Insurance Marketplaces

http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2013/09/if-the-price-is-right--most-uninsured--even-young-invincibles--l.html

Navigators…In-Person Assisters…CACs

Navigators…In-Person Assisters…CACs… This fact sheet provides useful info these roles and their features.  

 http://gtcvrd.am/1aU44Kr

New Spanish-Language Version of Obamacare Animated Video; +other spanish material

1) Watch and Share New Spanish Cartoon: "Los YouToons Se Preparan Para Obamacare" 

 Los YouToons Se Preparan Para Obamacare

2) From Kaiser Family Foundation. Please distribute widely

Overview of the Health Insurance Marketplace (July 2013)

• Spanish language version

3)

Planned Parenthood has a new site for Spanish speakers to learn everything you need to know about how to get covered under Obamacare, starting October 1! In just over a week, millions of uninsured Americans will be able to get quality, affordable health insurance—and you probably know some of them. Share this to help spread the word: http://bit.ly/asegurate

 

4) http://www.cuidadodesalud.gov/

From HHS. 

A Tale of Two States: The Health Care Income Divide Visualized; + other items

1) http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/Other/2013/Sep/Health-Care-Income-Divide.aspx

A Tale of Two States: The Health Care Income Divide Visualized

This is an outstanding way to present data and very informative.  

 2) From Kaiser Health News

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2013/September/17/employer-sponsored-health-insurance-trends.aspx

FAQ: How Is Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Changing?

For millions, insurance will cost less than $100/month; + other items

1) Here are two articles on low premiums:  

a) "For millions, insurance will cost less than $100/month" 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/17/100-dollar-premiums-exchanges/2822979/ 

 b) "Nearly 6 in 10 uninsured Americans can pay less than $100 per month for coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace"

 http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/09/20130917b.html 

c) "Visualizing Health Policy: Premium Subsidy Scenarios Under Obamacare"

A useful set of graphics on the impact of the premium subsidies.  This story has not been told to a great extent.  

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1738900

2) The Washington Post had several articles in today's edition which provide excellent reviews of the new exchanges. A very useful fact sheet and articles about the exchanges in maryland, virginia and d.c. I have enclosed the fact sheet and maryland articles. 

a) Health insurance marketplaces open Oct. 1. What you need to know to choose a plan. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/health-insurance-marketplaces-open-oct-1-what-you-need-to-know-to-choose-a-plan/2013/09/16/f50641ae-1588-11e3-804b-d3a1a3a18f2c_story.html

b)How to buy insurance under Obamacare if you live in Maryland

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-to-buy-insurance-under-obamacare-if-you-live-in-maryland/2013/09/16/84175df4-15ae-11e3-a2ec-b47e45e6f8ef_story.html

7-surprising-facts-about-obamacare (updated)

1) 
http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20130903/7-surprising-facts-about-obamacare

This article covers seven surprising things you need to know about this brave new world of required health insurance coverage, such as  1. Most people won't pay a penalty. … 2. Most people who are uninsured will qualify for financial assistance to buy a new policy. 

 2)

Do you have questions about your options in the Marketplace? Check out HealthCare.gov to find in-person assistance right in your area: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/

This provides a link to your state's health insurance exchange (marketplace)