By Ray Wilson+

Only 5 DC residents have enrolled in the new ObamaCare Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans. These residents represent those who have chosen for a plan and paid for it.

According to Politico, DC HealthLink’s Richard Sorian says that saying only 5 residents have enrolled is “not an accurate depiction of the strong level of interest in the District of Columbia in obtaining quality, affordable health insurance.” 747 individuals and small businesses have selected a health plan but have not paid for them. The deadline for DC individuals to pay for a January 1st start date is December 15, 2013 and for small businesses it is December 12, 2013. 

For help finding a plan in DC call 800-930-7956 or contact Medicoverage.

By Amy De Vore+

The District of Columbia claims its Health Insurance Marketplace will be ready by the mandated deadline of October 1, 2013. Even with their claim that they are up and ready, tax credits will not be applied till November.

DC Tax Credits

As long as DC residents are enrolled and paid by December 15, 2013, their health coverage will begin January 1st. The one glitch in the system are individuals, families, and small businesses tax credits will not be automatically be included until November. The best bet is to call 800-930-7956 to learn what your subsidy/credit would be for the new Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Affordable Care Act plans.

Subsidies for DC

There are two types of federal subsidies for those who qualify:

• Premium subsidies: to help with monthly costs
• Cost-Sharing Subsidies: to help with medical costs

Don’t Qualify for Subsidies?

If you know that you don’t qualify for subsidies you can purchase off-Exchange plans that may be identical to the metal plans or providers may choose to offer more benefits. If they are identical why would choose one of these? Well, to say time and protect your privacy. The reason is signing up for an on-Exchange plan requires a lot of financial information, and for off-Exchange plans you don’t need to do any of that.

To sign up for a new plan in DC call the number above or contact Medicoverage.

By Katie Banks+

DC released its rates for the Health Insurance Marketplace which begins enrolling its residents on October 1, 2013. There are three providers selling to the individual market in DC: Aetna, CareFirst, and Kaiser.

DC Health Insurance Marketplace Rates for a 40 Year Old

The following are the average rates for a 40 year old residing in DC. Remember the rates below do not include the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.

How to Choose an ACA Plan

When choosing a plan do not choose based off price only, as Covered California warns its residents that the Bronze plan significantly costs more when seeking medical treatment even though it has a lower monthly premium. What you want to look for is a good price both for premiums and cost-sharing (deductible, copay, and coinsurance), and the network of doctors and hospitals.

This can all be overwhelming, remember agents are able to help you navigate through the new plans. For your specific DC premium rates and plans call 800-930-7956 or contact Medicoverage.

By Amy De Vore+

The smoking penalty that is tacked on to ObamaCare’s Health Care Exchange is imposed if the state you reside in defaults to the federal Exchange, however, as DC has proven, a state or district Exchange can opt out of charging penalties for the new “metal” plans: Bronze Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan.

Penalties run as high as $5,000 per year for a 60 year old smoker -this fee is on top of the premium. The smoking penalty has been a bit controversial because a recent study stated that smokers health care may actually cost less than a non-smoker. Click to read more about ObamaCare smoker’s penalties and studies on smoker’s healthcare costs.

D.C. has proven that each state or district has an option to impose the penalty. The D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority board implementing the guaranteed issuance aspect of the Healthcare Exchange is requiring providers to offer insurance at the same price for smokers as non-smokers. This is important for the district because 20% of their residents are smokers. Dr. Mohammed Akhter, the chair of the D.C. board, said, “Charging significantly more for health insurance is in direct conflict with our efforts to help people quit smoking.”

To learn if your state is imposing the smoking penalty with the new “metal” plans call 800-930-7956 or contact Medicoverage for assistance.

By Ray Wilson+

The District of Columbia Health Benefits Exchange is one of the only places that requires small business owners to provide health insurance to its employees under the new Healthcare Exchange, beginning January 2014.  Small businesses under Obamacare will offer “metal” plans known as the Bronze Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan.

Small Business ObamaCare

Under ObamaCare businesses with 50 or more employees are required to offer health insurance, however in DC businesses with less than 50 employees will be required to offer health coverage to their employees.

Small Business Owner Premiums for Employees DC

A small business in DC may offer its employees an HMO or PPO plan with the employer paying out $144 a month for an HMO plan for a 27 year old and up to $1,037 for a PPO plan for a 55 year old. These premiums have a wide range due not only to HMO/PPO choice but also on which metal plan is offered. 

Small Business Owners Receive a Tax Cut

For employers with less than 25 employees the employer may receive up to a 50% tax credit.

When do business owners have to purchase by?
The Healthcare Exchange’s open enrollment begins Oct. 1 and will offer coverage beginning in January. Small business owners in DC will have a little more time to buy coverage though. They are given until 2015. 

Further Questions:
For further questions about the metal plans in your state call 800-980-7956 or contact Medicoverage.

By Ray Wilson+

The District of Columbia Health Benefits Exchange has announced the insurance providers for the new Healthcare Exchange which begins January 2014. Each of the providers must offer the ObamaCare essential benefits which include free preventive care.  The plans offered are the new “metal” plans known as the Bronze Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan.

DC Health Providers

*These healthcare provider’s rates will undergo a review to make sure they are justifiable,

Further Questions:
For further questions about providers in your state call 800-980-7956 or contact Medicoverage.

By Amy De Vore+

The District of Columbia Health Benefits Exchange released preliminary premiums for the new Healthcare Exchange which begins January 1, 2014. The plans offered are the new “metal” plans known as the Bronze Plan, Silver Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan.

DC Preliminary Premiums

*These premiums do not include Federal Premium Subsidies.

Further Questions:
For further questions about premiums in your state call 800-980-7956 or contact Medicoverage.

By Amy De Vore+

The Affordable Care Act helps the uninsured in a few ways. For instance, in the LA Times today there was an article about a woman making $12.68 an hour, mother of one child, lives in Los Angeles, and recently choose to forego surgery because she was uninsured. As of January 1st this woman would have options for health coverage.

How the Affordable Care Act Helps Uninsured

She isn’t qualified for Medicaid, however since she works she may qualify for job-based insurance as 2015. Until then and if her employer doesn’t offer insurance she would qualify for premium subsidies and cost-sharing subsidies, and her daughter would qualify for Medi-Cal.

Costs for Lower-Income Families

The article doesn’t state how old she is, but if she is 30, her Silver plan premium could be as low as $93 a month and her deductible would be reduced from $2000 to $500, and a reduced maximum out of pocket from $6,350 to $2,250. This would apply to any single parent to one child living in the Los Angeles area, making her salary.

How do Lower-Income Families and Individuals Get Insurance?

First, it’s important to remember for anyone purchasing a plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace you need your W2 paperwork and financial information handy like child support, alimony, assets. Then you can either go directly through your state’s newly established call center’s navigators or you can go through your insurance agent. Many don’t realize that agents can help with on and off-Exchange plans.

Lower Income Seniors

Seniors do not have to do anything as of January 1st. Seniors stay on Medicare and do not apply for the new metal plans. Make sure your friends and parents are aware that there is nothing for them to do, because states are vocally expressing their concerns about seniors being tricked by scammers into giving away personal information due to the lack of awareness in regards to the ACA.

To learn if you qualify for a subsidy call 800-930-7956 or contact Medicoverage.