This is second in a three-part "starter course" on the Affordable
Care Act (aka, Obamacare)
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that this week
marked the opening of state- and federal-run insurance marketplaces
("exchanges"). While we don't know how they'll be regarded over time,
initial reactions to them run the gamut from cynicism and uncertainty to
measured optimism.
The
exchanges are the centerpiece of the 2010 health reform law, called the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) or, more commonly, Obamacare. The hope is to get
health insurance to more than 40 million adults who don't have it now.
Beginning
this week, Americans can start enrolling for insurance through the new
exchanges. (Find yours by going to healthcare.gov.) The federal government is running or partnering with local officials to run these in 36 states in all. The
remainder of states and the District of Columbia are operating their own
exchanges. People can enroll through March, with coverage beginning on January
1.
Though now
able to sign up for coverage, a new survey shows public confusion persists over how the ACA will work. It's
important to know that help is available, from certified "navigators"
to companies like ours, Maxwell Health, which aim to help consumers, employers,
and even insurance brokers navigate the rapidly changing health care landscape.
Here are answers to some common
questions that are being asked:
How will the exchanges change
the way I get insurance?