To Our Valued Clients,
There are historic changes taking place in the health care industry which will impact almost every United States citizen in regards to some aspect of their health insurance. The intention of this blog post is to provide a general overview of some of the changes taking place between now and January 1st, 2014 and to offer our assistance in the event you have additional questions or would like to explore various options that might benefit you.
The primary purpose of the PPACA (Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act) is to provide every eligible citizen access to some sort of private or public health insurance. There will be no more underwriting or pre-existing condition exclusions and all policies will be sold on a guaranteed issue basis starting on January 1st, 2014. Also to prevent individuals from signing up for coverage after they break a leg or get real sick there will be an open enrollment period, much like the present Medicare system. This open enrollment period will typically take place annual from October through December. However, taking in to account that this will be the first year of the exchange, the open enrollment period will go through March of 2014 this year only.
Plans will fall into one of four benefit categories; the Bronze plan covers 60% of a claim, Silver covers 70% of a claim, Gold covers 80% of a claim and Platinum covers 90% of a claim. There will also be one additional category for the “young invincibles” or those under the age of 30 , which will provide catastrophic coverage only. All plans offered will cover 10 essential benefits like preventive care, maternity, prescription drugs and hospitalization much like many of the current plans.
In addition to plans being available on a guaranteed issue basis there will also be tax credits and cost sharing available to folks who earn as much as 400% of the FPL (Federal Poverty Level) which is $45,960 for an individual and $94,200 for a family of four. If you earn less than that you will be eligible for some sort of assistance to offset your premiums.
In order to receive tax credits you must enroll in a plan through Nevada’s exchange or marketplace at www.nevadahealthlink.com. If you’re income falls within the aforementioned range please contact us for assistance. We are a certified agency for Nevada Health Link and would be happy to help you navigate the site and choose a plan that best meets your needs. Your costs are the same whether you navigate the site directly or work with us.
The next few months will be hectic and you may very well feel overwhelmed by the amount of information regarding plans and the exchange. If you have questions or want assistance please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our agents are prepared to assist you in finding the most comprehensive plan for you, your family, or your small business. You trust us with your auto, home, and business insurance-let us take care of you, too!.
Best regards,
The Agents at Capital Insurance Service
