California Patient Advocacy Group Releases Guide On New Healthcare Reform Law Changes

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As millions of Californians prepare for the first open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, Californians for Patient Care (CPC), a nonprofit patient-advocacy organization based in Sacramento, today released "Healthcare Coverage in 2014: Five Things Californians Should Know" to help people navigate the process and understand what the new health law, also known as Obamacare, means for them and their families.

"To many Californians, especially those who have never had health insurance, the new law and the process of actually obtaining coverage can be complicated and confusing," said Carmella Gutierrez, president of Californians for Patient Care. "Our goal is to help people see the big picture, understand the role of the state's new healthcare marketplace and learn about their options. We want to empower Californians with information so they can choose the coverage that best fits their needs."

Designed to be simple and user-friendly, CPC's "Healthcare Coverage in 2014: Five Things Californians Should Know" guide frames key issues for people interested in purchasing health insurance through Covered California. These points include eligibility, costs, subsidies, tax credits, responsibilities and penalties - important matters that should be carefully considered when purchasing a new health plan.  

Below is a snapshot of key topics presented in the guide directed toward consumers:

1. You may qualify for financial help to buy health insurance. If health insurance was too expensive in the past, you may be eligible for programs to help you pay for it. About 2.6 million Californians will qualify for federal assistance to buy health insurance in 2014, according to Covered California. If you already have affordable health insurance from your employer, you don't need to do anything. Otherwise, some additional options include tax credits, subsidies to cover out-of-pocket costs and Medi-Cal.
2. You should expect to pay at least a part of your health insurance. While more affordable options are available, you likely will be required to pay part of your healthcare costs in 2014. If you haven't had insurance before, or it has been awhile since you've had coverage, it's a good idea to learn about the different costs. In addition to paying all or a portion of the health insurance premium, you will contribute to the cost of your care via co-payments and deductibles.
3. Covered California™ will help you find the best plan for you and your family.  The state's new insurance marketplace, Covered California, will help you choose the healthcare coverage that works best for you and your family. Covered California, www.coveredca.com, is a new online insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can compare and choose health plans. You also can see if you qualify for financial assistance. You can start signing up for coverage starting Oct. 1, 2013, and be covered under your new plan starting Jan. 1, 2014.
4. There will be plans for a variety of budgets. Choose your plan based on your needs and what you can afford. The four basic coverage levels are platinum, gold, silver and bronze. As the metal category decreases in value (platinum highest, bronze lowest), so does the percent of medical expenses that a health plan will cover. If you pay a higher monthly premium for your plan, you will generally pay less when you receive a medical service. A lower monthly premium will generally require higher out-of-pocket costs when you receive care. Catastrophic plans offering bare-bones coverage may be available to people under age 30.
5. You could face a penalty if you don't have health insurance. If you don't purchase healthcare coverage, you could face a penalty. If you don't buy coverage or go without it for three months, you may be charged a tax penalty by the government. Some people won't have to pay a penalty. They are people who have very low incomes (in 2012, $9,750 for a single person and $27,100 for a married couple with two children), people who qualify for religious reasons, undocumented immigrants, Native Americans and those who are in prison. Businesses with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees may be subject to a penalty beginning in 2014 if they do not offer adequate health insurance to full-time-equivalent employees and their dependents.

Californians for Patient Care is a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento dedicated to protecting the interests of patients and ensuring all Californians have fair and equitable access to high-quality healthcare. Californians for Patient Care's online consumer directory provides the most comprehensive listing of local no-cost and low-cost healthcare services in California. For more information, visit www.calpatientcare.org. To download the free guide, available in English or Spanish, visit www.calpatientcare.org/ObamacareFiveThings.

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Contact: Amy Fletcher
http://www.calpatientcare.org/media-inquiries
916-860-7106

SOURCE Californians for Patient Care