Obamacare Annual Enrollment – Should I Care?

ObamaCare enrollment started November 15th.  The question is, who should care?  Health Care site 2014

ObamaCare is mainly for people and small groups who purchase their own health insurance.  If you are uninsured and do not have an employer-sponsored health plan, Medicare, or Medicaid, ObamaCare is for you.

But, the fact is that most people will never apply for ObamaCare.

Forty-Eight (48%) percent of people in the US have employer-sponsored health insurance. Medicare, government health insurance for the elderly, covers another 15 percent of the US population. Medicaid, government health insurance for the poor, covers an additional 15 percent. Other government health insurance programs cover 2 percent of the population. Another 5 percent of the population is covered by non-group plans. So, only 15 percent of the US population is currently uninsured. Therefore, most people will never need the insurance plans created as a result of ObamaCare.

Often, people with Medicare are confused about the Medicare enrollment period v. the ObamaCare enrollment period.

The Medicare enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7, 2014.  This enrollment period is different than ObamaCare.  If you have Medicare, remember that the ObamaCare enrollment period does not affect Medicare.  Also, if you have Medicare Advantage, you do not need to do anything related to ObamaCare.  Medicare Advantage is not the same as ObamaCare.

The cost of coverage for an ObamaCare health plan will vary widely depending on three major factors: your age, your income and where you live. ObamaCare allows health insurance companies to charge significantly more for an older shopper compared to a young shopper. For example, a health plan for a 58-year-old can cost three times more then the same health plan for a 23-year-old. The reason for this is that the health insurance company expects to pay far more for the 58-year-old’s healthcare then for a young, healthy 23-year-old. It’s also true that in certain parts of the country healthcare costs more than in other parts of the country. Additionally, for people who earn less than four times the poverty level (about $45,000 for an individual or $96,000 for a family of 4), they will be entitled to subsidies, which may pay for the entire cost of the monthly premium.

Also, if you do not have health insurance you will have to pay a penalty.  So, if you are uninsured, check out  healthcare.gov and enroll in your plan of choice. You  have until February 15, 2015 to apply.

 

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Helpful Health Care Links: November 14, 2014

Background concept wordcloud illustration of medicare glowing liThis week, our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics — an update on potential Ebola therapies to be tested in Liberia and information on the benefits flu shots have for seniors. We also included a local news update from Crain’s Detroit Business announcing a new Emergency Department for seniors opening November 17. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Flu Shots Effective for Seniors, Says New Review

A new review of published studies finds that the seasonal flu vaccine is effective at protecting those over 60 during epidemics or widespread outbreaks.

Detroit Medical Center to Open Emergency Department for Seniors

Detroit Medical Center’s Detroit Receiving Hospital is the latest hospital in Southeast Michigan to offer a specialized emergency department for seniors.

Medicare Proposes Paying for Lung Cancer Screenings for Older Longtime Smokers

A draft decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would extend coverage for CT scans to Medicare beneficiaries who smoked at least a pack a day for 30 years or the equivalent.

3 New Ebola Therapies Will Be Tested; Liberia Lifts Emergency

Medical teams plan to start three clinical trials in the fight against the Ebola virus next month, administering the drugs at treatment centers run by Doctors Without Borders in West Africa. Two of the therapies involve antiviral drugs.

What the Election Results Mean for You

What will the recent midterm election results mean for seniors and their healthcare?

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Seniors Confused about Medicare and ObamaCare?

With healthcare changing daily, seniors are confused. What is the Affordable Care Act?  How does it differ from Medicare?  This is especially true as the enrollment periods overlap.  Seniors have found it hard to differentiate and make decisions. But the most important thing seniors need to know is that Medicare and the health plans offered under ObamaCare are completely different. 

Happy senior citizen couple using laptop computer at home

“About 17% of seniors incorrectly believe the Affordable Care Act replaces their Medicare with insurance policies purchased online through the state and federal health insurance exchanges, according to a study released last year by USA Today. 

Confusion has led to unnecessary decisions. At first some of the confusion was created intentionally when advertising picked up from opponents to the law, Rabbitt said. Other questions arose because seniors said they don’t trust any one source for information, and some sources give different answers.

The confusion caused seniors to make unnecessary decisions about spending, she said. Some even went back to work.

“The fear of the unknown causes them to look at their budget,” she said. “They’re refilling prescriptions later, or skipping doses to make them last longer. That can lead to higher medical costs.”

The survey found about a third of seniors thought the eligibility age goes up to 68 in January  of this year because of the law — also incorrect.

USA Today Survey

Medicare Isn’t Changing. As Medicare and ObamaCare open enrollments start up this year, seniors need to know that  Medicare isn’t changing.  Seniors’ Medicare enrollment period started October 15 and they will enroll the same way they have for the past 8 years. Enrollment for Medicare ends December 7.   And remember, seniors do NOT have to worry about open enrollment for ObamaCare, which starts November 15th.   

Doctor’s offices should be educating patients to make sure they don’t mistakenly change their coverage or stop taking medications for fear of lack of coverage.  Education is key.

 ♦◊♦

Are you looking to cut through all the noise and find out what ObamaCare really is, what it does, and, most importantly, what it means to you? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: ObamaCare” ebook guide leaves the politics behind and gives you a straightforward, timely rundown of the changes the law made and whether or not they impact YOU.

HS-Book_Covers_OCaresmall

Available for download NOW!