The next phase of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is set to take effect on Tuesday, Oct. 1, when online health insurance exchanges go live all across the country. In Pennsylvania, the exchange is being run by the federal government and according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, costs for healthcare plans in Pennsylvania are some of the lowest in the country.
Want to learn how you can get quality, affordable healthcare coverage through the ACA? Here’s how:
If you’re uninsured, call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)
The hotline is up and running 24/7 starting Oct. 1 and healthcare navigators will be available to walk you through the process and help you figure out what tax credits and subsidies you qualify for.
If you’re a small businesses business owner, call 1-800-706-7893 (TTY: 1-800-706-7915)
Have questions about the Small Business Health Options Program Marketplace (SHOP) for businesses with 50 or fewer employees? You can reach someone who can walk you through the process Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Agents and brokers are also welcome to use this resource.
Want help in person?
Navigators are trained and certified to help you understand your options and enroll in a plan. They’ll be known by different names, depending on who provides the service and where they are located, but they’ll all provide similar help:
- Navigators
- Application assisters
- Certified application counselors
- Government agencies, such as State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offices
Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find help in your area. You can search by city and state or zip code to see a list of local organizations with contact information, office hours, and types of help offered, such as non-English language support, Medicaid or CHIP, and SHOP.
Here are some of the highlights of what the online exchanges have to offer:
- In the online marketplace, private insurance providers will compete for your business and you’ll have plenty of coverage and payment options at a variety of price points.
- All plans will be required to cover basic services like hospital and doctor vistis, maternity care, mental health care and prescription drugs.
- You can’t be turned down for a pre-existing condition.
- Men and women will pay the same price for coverage.
- The government will offer tax credits for consumers purchasing insurance through the exchanges, making it more affordable.
Learn more about finding help with open enrollment in the ACA here.