Health Insurance and Health Care Reform in 2014
The most significant changes implemented by health care reform legislation will come into force on January 1st of 2014. These changes will have at least some impact on all individual and family policyholders and will also affect grandfathered policies that were effective on or before March 23, 2010. The positive changes will be for those who have been rated up or declined for health insurance in the past, for those who are currently or plan to become pregnant, and those whose income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level (I will be developing a worksheet to help you determine whether you are eligible for a subsidy). The negative changes will be for those who have an average or better than average health rating and for those on the younger end of the health insurance spectrum (the 20s-30s). https://thehealthcarey.com/
If You’ve Been Declined or Rated Up
If you have pre-existing conditions, you are now in the sweet spot of health care reform. Starting in October of 2013, health insurance companies will be able to begin accepting applications for policies with a January 1st, 2014 effective date. These policies will not use health status or pre-existing conditions to determine benefits, decline, or charge higher rates. Moving forward, the only factors that will contribute to your health insurance premium are the plan you choose, your age, and tobacco usage. I am not yet aware of how currently effective policies will transition. Whether your rating will simply be removed from your existing policy or whether you will need to apply for a new policy to get rid of your rating. I will know more as we get closer to the open enrollment period starting in October 2013.
Maternity Coverage
If you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, starting on January 1st, 2014, all new health insurance policies will cover maternity automatically. It has not been made explicitly clear whether women who are currently pregnant will be covered. However, given the language of new policies regarding pre-existing conditions, I am comfortable in speculating that there will not be a waiting period for women. Who are currently pregnant and whose due date falls in 2014 and beyond. I will give updates as I become aware of definite regulations.
Health Insurance Subsidies
Health insurance policies sold through the NC exchange on or after October 2013. With January 1st effective date, will be eligible for the subsidy. The subsidy amount will be based on your income. And you will be eligible if your income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level. Based on income brackets, the premium you owe for yours. A health insurance policy will be calculated as a percentage of your annual income. As previously stated, I will be creating a calculator to help you predict. What percentage of your monthly income a health insurance policy will cost you. Health insurance agents will have the ability to assist you in purchasing a policy through the exchange. https://themediamunk.com/
Young and/or Favorable Health Rating
If you are young and/or have a favorable health insurance rating, in almost all cases. You can expect rate increases in 2014. This rate increase is due to required pre-existing coverage and to rate variance shrinking from young to old subscribers. The purpose of coverage penalties for currently uninsured individuals is an attempt to bring in healthy. Policyholders and temper this increase. There will be high deductible plans available to those who want to satisfy. The health insurance mandate while minimizing monthly premium expenses. When these taxes are applied, then in almost all cases it will make sense to roll into a non-grandfathered plan.
