Going it alone can be scary.?Acquiring or maintaining health insurance while self employed can be down right terrifying. And, health reform can make it even more confusing.
By now you?ve probably heard the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA) declaring Health Care Reform constitutional. Chances are you haven?t read the whole thing (it is over 900 pages long) there are some the provisions in there designed to benefit self-employed consumers.? But, to take advantage of those benefits it?s important to understand how Health Care Reform can work for you.
Since we speak to the self employed on a daily basis and we?ve addressed some of these new changes in our blog, we have become pretty well versed in explaining how benefits have changed as a result of the ACA and what to expect in the future so we?re sharing:
5 ways health care reform can help the self-employed:
- Help to those with Pre-Existing Conditions: For those of you who have been going without health insurance for the past 6 months or so because you have a pre-existing condition, Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans have been established to help bridge the gap between now and 2014.? These are subsidized health insurance plans for people with complicated medical histories that prevent them from qualifying for individually-purchased health insurance on their own. Funding for these plans is scheduled to end in 2014 when the ?guaranteed issue? provision of the law will require all health insurance plans to accept applicants regardless of pre-existing medical conditions. You can learn more about these plans at www.pcip.gov
- ?Free? Preventive Care: The law requires plans to provide some basic preventive health screenings at no out of pocket cost to you.? ?So, if your rationale for not getting a routine exam was because you couldn?t afford the co-pay, you?re excuse is now gone. Go see your doctor!
- Caps on Lifetime Coverage End:? ?The ACA did away with lifetime coverage limits for most medical services on most health insurance plans. This means you no longer have to worry about going over your lifetime coverage cap.
- Small Business Health Care Tax Credit:? If you anticipate growing your business and you intend to provide health insurance to your employees, you?ll be happy to hear the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit helps small businesses that are incorporated or registered as an LLC.? The credit applies to businesses with 25 or fewer employees by providing a tax credit of up to 35% of the cost of employee premiums. These tax incentives are in place now, and they?re scheduled to be expanded in 2014.
- Health Insurance Rebates: ?This provision of the ACA went into effect in 2011 and requires insurance companies to spend 80-85% of member premiums directly on member medical expenses. The insurance company?s costs and profits are limited to the remaining 15-20% of premium income. Insurance plans that do not meet these ?medical loss ratio? (MLR) criteria are required to issue rebates to policyholders.? Rebates are already being issued and all rebates from 2011 will are to be paid by August 1st.
Learn more about these provisions and more here.
Source: http://blog.ehealthinsurance.com/2012/08/5-ways-health-care-reform-can-help-the-self-employed/
levi johnston 2013 srt viper scott walker recall fisker atlantic social darwinism jamie lynn spears wisconsin recall election
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন