The Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, makes healthcare accessible for people of all income levels. It also offers several consumer protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26.
If you qualify, you may be able to receive a premium tax credit to help cover your health insurance or special subsidies to reduce the cost of premiums. Check out ACA-compliant plans from Kaiser Permanente today!
Costs
The Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges have provided coverage to millions of Americans. Many plans on these exchanges offer advanced premium tax credits that reduce your costs when purchasing coverage.
How much an Obamacare Kaiser plan costs depends on your age, income, family size and where you live. Additionally, the plan you select affects how much money you pay out-of-pocket for health care services.
Private health insurance typically charges higher prices for healthcare than government-run programs like Medicare and Medicaid do, due to being subsidized by the federal government.
Obamacare has contributed to an increase in health insurance coverage, but it can be costly. Generally, younger and healthier individuals pay more for their coverage than older and less healthy counterparts; additionally, those with higher incomes pay more in premiums as well.
Coverage
Kaiser stands out among insurers by providing an expansive network of doctors and hospitals within its own network, helping you keep costs down for yourself and your family.
In addition to its own network, Obamacare Kaiser provides a selection of plans for individuals, groups and small businesses. These range from bronze, silver and gold levels of coverage.
Kaiser offers health care to low-income individuals through Medicaid and other programs, such as Medicare or job-based plans. These services enable individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for other coverage options like Medicare or a job-based plan to access quality healthcare.
Under Obamacare, plans must cover preventive services like a check-up and annual physical. You also may qualify for cost sharing reductions – savings on out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and copayments.
Access to Specialists
Kaiser insurance plans tend to be HMOs, meaning they only cover in-network care. While this can help keep monthly costs low, it also restricts your access to specialists outside the Kaiser network.
A recent study comparing plans available on the federal marketplace during 2015 open enrollment found that nearly 15% didn’t offer in-network doctors for at least one specialty. Rheumatology, endocrinology and psychiatry were the most frequently excluded from network coverage.
Studies and anecdotal reports about the Affordable Care Act’s effects on health care access remain mixed, particularly when it comes to primary care and specialized medical services. Furthermore, the ACA introduced several levers designed to promote integration between delivery systems and enhance care coordination.
Enrollment
The Obamacare Kaiser open enrollment period begins November 1 and concludes on December 15. To date, 95,913 individuals have signed up on the health insurance marketplace in North Carolina.
The number of individuals signing up for ACA-compliant plans remains higher than before the law took effect, likely due to subsidies that help pay a portion of insurance premiums.
KFF’s subsidy calculator can give you an estimate of how much financial assistance you could qualify for, based on your income, age, family size and zip code. These subsidies can make a big difference in the cost of your premiums.
