The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sometimes referred as "ObamaCare" is the law passed in 2010 that provides individuals and families greater access to affordable health insurance options. The ACA has 3 main goals which are to make affordable health insurance available to more people, expand the medicaid program to cover all adults who's income is lower than the 138% of the FPL poverty level, and to support medical care delivery methods to lower health care cost.
Benefits vary based on the specific plan chosen when applying for ACA health coverage, but most health plans require coverage to include:
• Preventive Care and Pediatric Care
• Hospitalization
• Pregnancy and newborn care
• Laboratory services
• Coverage regardless of gender or a pre-existing condition
• No lifetime or annual limits on coverage
• Young adults to stay on their family's insurance plan until age 26
The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) begins every year on November 1st and typically ends on January 15th. During this time anyone who meet the requirements may apply and qualify for health coverage. During the OEP, you can:
• Re-enroll in your current plan
• Choose a plan for the first time
• Choose a new plan to replace your current plan
• Make changes to your existing insurance plan
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If anyone would want to apply for health coverage or make changes outside of the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), it could only be done under a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). To qualify for a SEP, one of the following criteria must be met:
• Getting married or divorced
• Having a newborn baby or adding a dependent to your family
• Losing other health coverage
• Moving to a new address
• Been denied Medicaid or CHIP
• Having a household income of less than 150% of the FPL poverty level
