How Coloradans Can Access Affordable, Comprehensive Health Insurance

Patients trust their doctors. Polls show that when the public is asked which professions rate highest on honesty and ethical standards, physicians appear towards the top of the list.ⁱ So when patients have questions about health insurance, they're likely to ask their physician for advice on picking the plan that best suits their needs.

As a recognized Champion of Coverage, the American College of Physicians has agreed to provide unbiased and understandable resources to its physician members on ways you can help your patients obtain coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This guide provides specific information for Colorado internists and patients on the resources that are available to them.

The ACA will make health insurance more affordable by providing health insurance tax credits and cost-sharing to the uninsured, underinsured, and small businesses; creating health insurance marketplaces to make shopping for health insurance easier; and implementing insurance reforms to make the market more accessible, predictable, and fair. In many states, the Medicaid program will be expanded to serve more people and health insurers in all states will no longer be able to deny insurance to those with pre-existing conditions.

According to the Institute of Medicine, being uninsured poses a hazard to one's health. Adults without health insurance are less likely to receive clinical preventive services that can reduce the likelihood of developing serious illness. Those with chronic disease are more likely than the insured to forego necessary therapies. Uninsured adults are also more likely to die from serious acute conditions than those with insurance. Lack of health insurance also takes a financial toll, as 60% of all bankruptcies are connected to the cost of medical care.ⁱⁱ

Over 95,000 Coloradans under the age of 64 were uninsured in 2010 - 2011. Most individuals are now required to have health insurance. Patients who need health insurance will be able to purchase it through the state's health insurance marketplace and may be eligible for financial assistance to help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Others may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. This brief guide will provide information and useful links to resources that can help patients obtain coverage that is right for them. Connect for Health Colorado will make it easy for patients to shop for the insurance that fits their needs.

Navigating the health insurance market can be a daunting and confusing experience, especially for people who don't receive health insurance through their employer and must buy it on their own. Coloradans and their families who need affordable coverage can shop, compare, and enroll in health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado (CHC), the state's health insurance marketplace. CHC can help patients and their families make apples to apples comparisons of health plans and provide accurate, understandable information about provider availability, benefits, and costs. Patients will be able to see what their premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs will be before they enroll. If they qualify for Medicaid, Connect for Health Colorado will guide patients to the appropriate enrollment resources. Health plans offered in Connect for Health Colorado must meet an array of criteria including essential benefits, limits on cost-sharing, adequate provider networks, and follow new insurance market rules like prohibitions on capping pre-existing condition coverage. Plans will also be assigned "metal tiers" of Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with the Platinum level plan providing the most generous benefits.

Resources

• Enrollment in Connect for Health Colorado begins in the fall season. More information can be found here.
• Your patients may be able to enroll in coverage outside of the open enrollment period. Individuals who experience a qualifying life event (such as the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, or employment change) or were unable to enroll in the marketplace during open enrollment due to certain complex situations (such as an enrollment website error) may be granted a special enrollment period. Your patients can check with your state's marketplace for more information on applying for coverage during special enrollment periods.

Health insurance plans can be confusing. Community organizations can help your patients enroll.

Choosing a health insurance plan is an important decision and patients may need assistance to pick a plan that fits their needs and budget. Consumer assistance organizations, called Navigators or in-person assisters, are on hand to raise awareness about coverage options; help your patients fill out application forms; determine if your patients are qualified for financial assistance; provide impartial advice on choosing a plan; and refer your patients to the state Medicaid agency, ombudsmen or other assistance organizations as needed. Other entities include certified application counselors - defined as a community health center or other health care provider, hospital, a non-federal governmental or non-profit social service agency in a state with a State, Federally-facilitated, or State Partnership Marketplace that receives training to assist people applying for coverage, may also provide insurance information and assistance. If your patient has a question about health insurance enrollment, refer them to the appropriate consumer assistance organization.

More information about certified application counselors can be found here.

In addition, some marketplaces have granted permission for several online insurance brokers, like eHealth, to enroll eligible persons in plans offered through health insurance marketplaces.

Resources

Connect for Health Colorado has an assistance program, Connect for Health Assistance Network, that will train Health Coverage Guides to staff Assistance Centers throughout the state. These community-based organizations will be there to provide in-person help to answer questions and assist with enrollment. Find info on local assistance here.

The CHC website will maintain searchable directory of health insurance brokers certified through Connect for Health Colorado. More information on health insurance brokers and their role in CHC can be found here.

For general questions about the exchange, Connect for Health Colorado has set up a toll-free line at 1-855-PLANS-4-YOU (1-855-752-6749). Additional consumer support though a customer service center as well real time online chat will be available to consumers who have questions or need assistance in purchasing health insurance.

Patients may qualify for financial assistance to lower the cost of health insurance.

Health insurance can be very expensive, especially for those who don't receive coverage through their employer. Eligible individuals are now able to receive tax credits to buy insurance through Connect for Health Colorado.

How does it work? Uninsured patients will be able to apply through Connect for Health Colorado website, by phone, by mail, or in person at an establishment that provides enrollment assistance. All patients need to do is fill out the application, provide their Social Security number (or documentation stating that they are a legal resident), family size, employer and income information (such as a paystub or W-2 form), and CHC will determine whether a person is eligible for premium and cost-sharing assistance. If eligible for subsidies, the applicant will then pick a health coverage plan offered through CHC and the exchange will pay the subsidy directly to the insurer each month. The applicant pays the difference to the insurer.

Resources

• This subsidy calculator can help patients determine whether they're eligible for premium or cost-sharing discounts.

Small businesses can buy coverage and get financial assistance to provide insurance for their employees.

Small businesses have a particularly difficult time providing health insurance benefits to their employees due to the high cost, lack of plan uniformity, market volatility, and other factors. To help address these issues, the ACA requires the establishment of Small Business Health Options Programs (SHOP) in every state. Like the health insurance marketplace for individuals, the Connect for Health Colorado SHOP marketplace will give small businesses the opportunity to select from a variety of plan options, compare costs and standardized benefits, and receive enrollment assistance.

To help make insurance more affordable, small businesses that offer insurance benefits and meet employee and average income qualifications can receive a tax credit that cuts the cost of premiums. The small business tax credit provides 50% of the cost of insurance purchased through the SHOP marketplace.

Resources

• The CHC has a subsidy calculator to help small businesses determine their tax credit eligibility.
• CHC resources for small businesses.
• Consumer Assisters can answer small business health insurance questions.

Colorado Medicaid coverage is expanding to provide low-cost, comprehensive health insurance to more people.

All Coloradans under age 65 and whose income is less than 138% of the federal poverty level (that's about $33,950 for a family of four) are now eligible for the state's Medicaid program. Patients can sign up for and renew Medicaid coverage through the CHC (via website, phone, or in-person) and their local Department of Social Service or Health Department. Patients can receive a real-time notification regarding their application status. Eligible individuals can enroll in Medicaid coverage at any time throughout the year.

Resources

• Information regarding Colorado Medicaid benefits

ⁱGallup. Honesty and Ethics in Professions. November 2012. Accessed at http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx#1 on July 24, 2013.

ⁱⁱInstitute of Medicine. America's Uninsured Crisis: Consequences for Health and Health Care. Report Brief. February 2009. Accessed at http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/Americas-Uninsured-Crisis-Consequences-for-Health-and-Health-Care/Americas%20Uninsured%20Crisis%202009%20Report%20Brief.pdf on July 24, 2013.