What?? Free or low-cost
health coverage? Can this possibly be true?
Yes. This astonishing news is
buried in the 17th paragraph of an article originating from the NewYork Times, reprinted in yesterday’s Seattle Times:
About four-fifths of those choosing health plans to
date qualified for financial assistance to help pay their premiums, [Obama] administration
officials said.
A historic transformation
took place January 1, when the Affordable Care Act took effect: hardworking
Americans may qualify, depending on their income, for financial help to secure health
insurance.
Depending on your family income, you may qualify for
premium assistance too.
A
family of four needing insurance and earning less than $94,000 a year will qualify
for a low cost plan; a family of four making $32,499 or less will qualify for a plan at no cost.
Meet a few Washingtonians who signed up online at: www.wahealthplanfinder.org and already reap the health benefits of their new, affordable coverage:
Claire and Jim
create beautiful works of art and run an eclectic bar in the southeast
Washington town of Waitsburg. They qualified
for a silver Group Health plan with a premium (for both) of $159. In January,
Jim had his first checkup; and in early February, Claire had one as well,
including full cancer screening.
“Thanks to our new
health plan, all of this care was covered for free - no hassles, no co-pays, no
fine print,” exclaimed Claire.
Kristi is a
Seattle chef and small business owner.
She qualified for no cost
Apple Health coverage. Even so, she didn’t
believe it would do much for her. Then
in January, she visited the doctor, learned that an IUD costing $700 would be
the best solution for her ongoing medical condition, had it ordered and promptly
installed, free of charge, without any co-pays. “This relieves so much
anxiety,” says Kristi. “I’m really
excited and appreciative of the Affordable Care Act. Having health care means things will be taken
care of.”
It's a darn good thing
their new,
no-cost Apple Health coverage started January 1, because
in late January, as Carrie was
tending the farm, a ram went on a rampage, charging and attacking her
repeatedly. She wound up scraped and
bruised, with a broken leg. Her hospital
visit and follow up care were all covered, with no deductibles or fine print.
Julie and
her husband began midlife career transitions after launching their daughter
from the proverbial nest.
Last fall they explored their
new coverage options, and selected a bronze Group Health plan for which they
receive full premium assistance.
Though
Julie doubted her new insurance card would work, she gave it a try in
mid-January after she heard the scary news of this year's flu outbreak – 10
deaths already in our state. Sure
enough, she was whisked through the Seattle clinic, and given a flu shot, free
of charge.
"The experience couldn't
have been more seamless. I drove in and out of there in 15 minutes!" she
exclaimed.
If you live in Washington State
and need coverage, follow Ingrid’s advice and sign up immediately by
visiting: www.wahealthplanfinder.org
Don’t delay! Open enrollment ends March 31, 2014
Roberta Riley is the Communications Director for Northwest Health Law
Advocates, a non-profit dedicated to health care for all. In her former role as
Legal Counsel for Planned Parenthood, Ms. Riley won a groundbreaking federal
court decision requiring health plan coverage of prescription contraception.
She has served as a consumer advocate at the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners, and was appointed to the Washington State Health Reform
Realization Panel by the Hon. Mike Kreidler. In recognition of her achievements
on behalf of women, she was given a 2001 Ms. Magazine Women the Year Award.
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