Tomorrow Americans can start shopping for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). If you are like most people, you're probably confused about Obamacare, and might have put off doing your research. Here are some basic tips you should keep in mind come October 1st.
1. Your state may have its own insurance shopping website
- Do you live in a state that opted to run its own marketplace, or is it under federal direction? If you don't know, The Commonwealth Fund's interactive map will provide you with more than enough information.
2. The website will probably be confusing
- You'll see the term "marketplace" over and over again. Don't let it confuse you -- health insurance marketplaces are just a fancy name for the agency that controls the plans you'll see when you start shopping.
3. You'll be asked for some personal information
- In order to see your plan options, you'll need to enter your household size, your age and the ages of other household members, zip code, marital status, social security number, and whether or not you smoke. You won't however, have to answer questions about your health status, because Obamacare plans are required to accept everyone -- and they aren't allowed to charge you more for pre-existing conditions.
4. You might be overwhelmed (or excited) by all your options
- The good news? No matter which plan you choose, you'll have access to the same standard benefits -- free preventative care, clear out-of-pocket limits, and more. And even though you might be puzzled by your choices at first, it's pretty simple once you understand how the plans are structured.
5. There are more important dates that you might think
- You probably know that shopping starts on October 1st, and that coverage begins on January 1st, 2014. But do you have December 15th, 2013 marked on your calendar? You should make your first payment by then if you want coverage to start January 1st.
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