Resources available for the Health Insurance Marketplaces
Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplaces, the key component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), officially launched yesterday. Coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014 for those who purchase health insurance through the Marketplaces by December 15. Resources to help consumers find health insurance though the Marketplaces are available through HealthCare.gov. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has a one-page guide to the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Kaiser Family Foundation also released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a series of "Obamacare & You" fact sheets to help consumers better understand the ACA. For more ACA resources:
- Call 1-800-318-2596 for the government’s 24-hour ACA information line.
- To get your ACA questions answered via live webchat, visit www.healthcare.gov. For assistance in Spanish, visit www.cuidadodesalud.gov.
- A list of ACA navigators, which are hospitals, local business leaders, faith leaders, universities and community groups (among others) that are helping to get people enrolled.
- Email your questions to the Office of Rural Health Policy at ORHP-ACAQuestions@hrsa.gov.
- The Office of Rural Health Policy hosts weekly conference calls 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays to inform rural stakeholders on how the ACA can benefit rural communities. The call-in number is1-800-857-3749 and the passcode is ORHPACA. The Adobe Connect is https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/orh1.