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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