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Health Insurance Information

The Health Insurance Marketplace, sometimes known as the health insurance ?exchange? opened on October 1, 2013 and has begun open enrollment.

The Marketplace website, HealthCare.gov will be the primary tool for delivering information to Americans about their health coverage options.

A few facts about the Health Insurance Marketplace:

The Health Insurance Marketplace is for people seeking insurance or who are uninsured. Generally, people who currently have insurance through their workplace, who have insurance through Medicaid/KanCare, Medicare, Children?s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Tricare or the Veterans health care program are not the target of this open enrollment period.
Most people will be eligible for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The Marketplace is a new way to find quality health coverage. It can help if you don?t have coverage now or if you have it but want to look at other options.
The Marketplace simplifies your search for health coverage by gathering the options available in your area in one place. You can compare plans based on price, benefits, and other features important to you before you make a choice. Plans will be presented in four categories ? bronze, silver, gold, and platinum ? to make comparing them easier.
Insurance plans in the Marketplace are offered by private companies. They cover the same core set of benefits called essential health benefits. No plan can turn you away or charge you more because you have an illness or medical condition. They must cover treatments for these conditions. Plans can?t charge women more than men for the same plan. Many preventive services are covered at no cost to you.

Helpful videos:

CLICK HERE to watch a 6 minute video about the Health Insurance Marketplace APPLICATION.

This video introduces an interactive online application process for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace on HealthCare.gov. Using an example of a single man from Arizona, images of computer screens from the application unfold while a narrator explains the content of each screen. The program concludes with a printable summary of the application and an explanation of what benefits will be received.

CLICK HERE to watch a 4 minute video about Health Insurance Marketplace ENROLLMENT.

This video introduces the Marketplace enrollment process for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace on HealthCare.gov. Using the same individual from the Marketplace Application video as an example, the scenario continues, as he follows step-by-step instructions on how to find and enroll in a health plan. Images of computer screens from the Marketplace enrollment process unfold while a narrator explains the content of each screen. The program concludes with a successful completion of all enrollment steps, and how to contact the health plan to submit payment.

Where can you get help locally?

Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to find help in your area. You can search by city and state or zip code to see a list of local organizations with contact information, office hours, and types of help offered, such as non-English language support, Medicaid or CHIP, and Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). These organizations will be able to assist you in finding the kind of help that works for you.
Need application assistance? Here are the nearest organizations that may be able to help you:

Warren County Health Services - 301 N. Buxton, Suite 203 - Indianola, IA - (515) 961-1074
Primary Health Care, Inc. - 3059 E. 29th St. - Des Moines, IA - (515) 248-1600
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland - 1171 7th St. - Des Moines, IA - (515) 234-0403 OR (877) 811-7526 (toll free)
Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa - 1111 9th Street. - Des Moines, IA - (515) 288-1516

What help can you get from the library?

The Oskaloosa Public Library is providing information about the Health Insurance Marketplace online and in handouts available at the Reference Desk.

Library staff cannot assist customers in completing the application or enrollment process, but can provide technology assistance in using the library?s public computers and printers. Librarians can also make referrals to local agencies with trained application assistants.

If you are a consumer and have specific questions about the Affordable Care Act, please visit www.healthcare.gov, the official Affordable Care Act website, for more information.

Information borrowed from Healthcare.gov and Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library website.

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