Monday, September 30, 2013

Obamacare in Grand County

For Colorado  blog readers, the resources cited  are those mostly  you can also contact.

 Obamacare and Grand County
One  hurdle in acceptance of Obamacare has been  overcoming confusion and  ignorance about what it means for” me and my family.”   Information coming from Washington speaks in generalities and  generic  provisions, but some aspects of  health care coverage vary   from state to state,  county to county, and individual to individual.  The result has been that the public has become a target for anti health care reform advocates who  take advantage  of  ignorance to feed fear.
As of October 1 we all now have an opportunity to find out  what health care reform means for each of us in Grand County even if   the government is shut down or if  there is a delay in funding. The offices and websites will still be running regardless. It will not take another year to understand it. It will be clear to you immediately if you contact the offices  and websites already  operating  and open for business.
Coverage for those who enroll by December 15, 2013 will begin January 1, 2014 or affordable subsidized coverage would be kicked to January 1,  2015, if the GOP ever gets it way.  Delay of funding would not kill it. It would  just make it more expensive  with administrative costs continuing while  only the more  well-off would be  able to afford premiums since there would be no subsidies to lower the monthly charges.
 In a   government shutdown , the Congressional Budget Office says  the reform law implementation can continue because it is an entitlement.  President Obama has promised to use his  power to move funds around to pay  personnel to administer it.
If you receive insurance from a large employer or government entity, or you are on Medicaid or Medicare already, there will be little if any  change and you will not be able to go to  the market place exchanges to get subsidized  insurance,  nor do you need to reapply.  Obamacare has already closed much of the Medicare drug donut hole and added ten years to Medicare’s  life .  
Like all health insurance per Obamacare, large business provided insurance  is already bound by the consumer protections (no more caps, must cover pre-existing conditions, no  more co-pay cancer screenings, no more higher premiums for women than for men or  overcharging for administration fees .) Overcharges were already  refunded to the insured this year.  
In Grand County individuals earning less than  $15,856  or $30 thousand for a family of four will be covered by  expanded Medicaid.  Individuals earning between $15, 856  a year and $45,960  and families of four earning between $32,499 and $94,200  may qualify for reduced cost premiums  per  income level. For those who earn more, the premiums for coverage bought through the exchanges have the cost advantages of  a large group plan competing  on a level playing field  for your business. All will have a choice of plans through Access Health Colorado, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO, Colorado HealthOP, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and UnitedHealthcare. There are a wide variety of coverage levels within their plans.
  For those currently uninsured in Grand County, much information can be found at  www.connectforhealthco.com, including the ability to sign up for insurance. The site gives  the range of rates and plan comparisons. Their telephone number is 1 855-752-6749.  You can also  visit Northwest Colorado Community Health, 416 Byers, in Hot Sulphur Springs.   For  Medicaid information,  go to www.Colorado.gov/PEAK or call 1-800-221-3943 .
Small business owners with less than 50 employees are not required to provide health insurance.   There is helpful information about   small business group rates  at the connectforhealthco.com site and you may qualify for a tax credit if you offer insurance to your employees. Open enrollment in all  business and personal plans ends March 31, 2014.

For more, visit www.mufticforumblog.blogspot.com

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