There is so much discussion, some very heated and political about
the positive and negative attributes of what has been commonly referred to as
Obamacare. Since a few more changes is
going into effect on October 1, 2013 covered by the Patients Protection and the
Affordable Care Act, I thought I would refresh myself by going to the source at
the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) FAQ’s for The Center for Consumer Information
and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). Here’s what I found and you can, too.
- The enrollment period for the latest changes is October 1, 2013.
- The actual effective date for those changes is January 1, 2014.
- The latest changes include:
a. Pre-Existing
Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) transitions to a federal plan as of July 23,
2013 incorporating the existing state funded plans in 17 states.
i.
Eligibility for PCIP
1.
Have a pre-existing condition
2.
Be a U.S. citizen, or live in the U.S. legally
3.
Have been without health coverage for the last 6
months
b. The ability to shop for affordable insurance at
The Health Insurance Marketplace. The site will launch October 1, 2013. You can
learn more about it now at Healthcare.gov.
c. No employers are required to offer health
coverage, but small businesses or non-profits with fewer than 50 employees can
obtain coverage best suited to their needs through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
Marketplace.
d. People will be trained and certified to help
navigate the Marketplace for the best, less costly plan for you.
This is a short overview of the Affordable Care Act. I will
be sure to add more. In addition to knowing and taking care of our bodies, we
need to stay abreast of funding our best health. Once the Marketplace launches,
I would love hear some feedback.
Dilsa Bailey, the author of this blog is a healthcare credentialing consultant and the author of A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Right Doctor.
