Obamacare makes its real debut tomorrow in the District, and all this week the District’s Dime will focus on how federal health reform impacts the full-time residents and businesses of This Town. DC’s groundbreaking health benefits exchange is ready to go, despite some misleading news headlines that would lead you to believe otherwise.
Tomorrow starts open enrollment on www.dchealthlink.com, the District’s locally governed “exchange” or marketplace to shop for quality and affordable health insurance plans. Residents can use the site to sign for health insurance coverage that will start January 1, 2014. The website has drop-down menus that present the options for individuals, families, and small businesses. On the site, purchasers can compare plans for services, size of doctor network, and cost, for starters.
The health exchange site is where residents will need to go to claim new federal tax credits to help pay for plans purchased through DC Health Link. Each resident’s tax credit will be based on income. They will be applied directly to pay a plan’s premiums, which will lower the monthly health expenses a resident faces. To receive the credit, residents apply via the exchange, and once the exchange verifies the applicants’ income, the system immediately displays the value of the credit and each plan’s price after the credit is factored in.
Officials with DC Health Link announced last week that it may take a little more time for the calculations of subsidies to happen automatically on the website. While some media reports characterized this “glitch” as a failure, it really is a technical setback that requires a little more time for consumers to find out their eligibility for credits and subsidies. The bug will be worked out soon, likely by November. Until then, residents interested in applying for a subsidy will proceed with an online application and will have to wait to receive a determination. When a determination is made, the applicant’s online profile will be updated with the size of the credit and the lower premium costs. Given that insurance coverage will not start until January, no resident will have to pay premiums without the tax credits.
In the meantime, DC Health Link has added features to ensure residents will not have a delay in coverage starting January 1. Residents can begin navigating the website immediately, create an online account, compare plans based on the unsubsidized prices, and get an estimate of their subsidy using an online calculator. Assisters, brokers, and call-center staff are also available to help consumers through the shopping process and can help with issues surrounding the tax credits.
Tomorrow, we will go more in-depth about www.healthlink.com!
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