Education effort tackles new changes relative to the Affordable Care Act
CARIBOU — Approximately 20 residents spent Monday evening learning about the Health Insurance Marketplace opening in Maine on October 1. Officials with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) presented information about the topic to participants at the Sept. 23 meeting at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center.
Presenters offered an overview of the benefits available through the Health Insurance Marketplace as well as a demonstration of the website, healthcare.gov, and also provided information about the local resources available to assist individuals with the health insurance application and enrollment.
“In addition to healthcare.gov and 1-800-318-2596, Caribou consumers can turn to a number of community agencies for enrollment assistance including the Aroostook County Action Program, Pines Health Services and Fish River Rural Health,” said Jennifer Syria, health insurance specialist with CMS.
Officials with CMS explained that the Health Insurance Marketplace is a new way to find quality healthcare coverage.
“It can help consumers who currently don’t have coverage as well as those who have coverage, but want to look at other options,” they said. “With one application, consumers can learn if they are eligible for lower costs based on their income, compare their coverage options side-by-side, and enroll.”
Officials also said that the Health Insurance Marketplace will tell medical care consumers if they qualify for free or low-cost coverage available through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Open enrollment begins on Oct. 1, and runs through March 31, 2014.
Officials also expressed that individuals with Medicare are not affected by the Health Insurance Marketplace. Medicare beneficiaries should continue to use medicare.gov and 1-800-Medicare for questions related to their health care options.
