Urban Call — Healthy Living Every Day!
Affordable Care Act: The Important Dates Are you an individual looking for a health insurance plan? Do you want to change the plan you are on? Do subsidies help pay for your insurance? If so, you need to update your subsidy with the Health Insurance Marketplace. Subsidies change every year.
November 15: Annual Enrollment Period begins. Apply for, keep, or change coverage. December 15: Subsidy information with the Health Insurance Marketplace is due if members want to change plans, or apply for new coverage. December 31: Coverage ends for 2014 plans. January 1: Coverage for 2015 plans can start. February 15: The last day to apply for 2015 coverage before the end of Annual Enrollment Period. Outside of a few exceptions, anyone who does not purchase a plan between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15 will be required to wait until the next Annual Enrollment Period.
* Dependents may stay on their parents plan until age 26, (the law also states that “dependents” do not have to live with their parents, be claimed as a dependent on tax returns, may be married and do not have to be enrolled in school). * Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions are eliminated. Applicants cannot be turned away for enrollment based on their health status. * Preventive care and medical screenings are covered in-network at 100%, with no cost sharing. This includes immunizations, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force-recommended
The Affordable Care Act provides many benefits:
Inside...
Important Dates to Remember
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AIDS Foundation
10 Steve Harvey
Mental Health
Blair Underwood
10 Melissa Harris-Perry
Fighting Diabetes in Our Community
Michelle Obama
Halle Berry
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services, and screenings for women, infants, children, and adolescents. *Annual dollar limits on essential benefits are eliminated. * There are no lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits. *Policies may only be rescinded for fraud or intentional misrepresentation on the part of the applicant or non-payment of premiums. All BCBSNC plans mentioned in this edition of Urban Call provide coverage for essential health benefits, which are now required by law. For those who can’t afford it on their own, subsidies are available to people who meet eligibility criteria. The Health Insurance Marketplace can provide more information on eligibility. *Premium subsidies are available for those who qualify. They help lower the amount of premium the individual or family must pay for their coverage on a month-to-month basis. *Some are eligible for cost-sharing assistance that will limit out-of-pocket costs (i.e., deductibles, coinsurance or copayments) that would otherwise be charged at the point of service.
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Mentoring
Sandra Miller Jones
Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. Founder & CEO
Lafayette Jones
Publisher, Urban Call; SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. President & CEO
From our family to yours It is a great pleasure to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the goal of helping more people have access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act. We know that health outcomes improve when access to appropriate medical care is available. We are happy that our SMSi Ambassadors will be out in the community helping people understand their new options. As always, our motto continues to be: Healthy Living Every Day!
For more information on your Affordable Health Care options Call: (866) 341-5283 toll free Text: (336) 692-2151 E-mail: SMSiPartners@smsi-net.com For a digital copy of Urban Call visit: http://Issuu.com/SmsiUrbanCallMarketing.com