Affordable Healthcare Act -
Frequently Asked Questions

Legislation signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010, that made historic changes in the availability and delivery of health insurance, Medicaid and health policy nationwide. Commonly referred to as the health reform law, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and Obamacare.

• Lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits aren’t allowed.
• The appeal procedures available to consumers are different.
• Insurers can’t deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
• Nearly all adult children up to age 26 are eligible to remain on a parent’s health insurance policy, regardless of the child’s marital status, financial dependency, enrollment in school, or place of residence.
• In-network and participating providers must cover preventive services. There can be no cost-sharing for preventative services.
• Consumers have more access to information about proposed rate changes.
• Medical loss ratio standards limit how much of premium dollars insurers can spend on administrative expenses.
• All insurers must use a standardized Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), which makes it easier to compare plans.
• Small businesses that provide health care of employees can apply for a tax credit.
• Persons with Medicare prescription drug coverage receive a rebate to help cover the cost of the “donut hole.” The “donut hole” should be totally phased out by 2020.
• Plans must include the new consumer protections. Health insurers can no longer deny or refuse to renew coverage because of a pre-existing condition. They also can’t charge a higher premium due to a person’s gender or health condition.
• Insurers must cover routine medical costs if a person participates in a clinical trial for cancer or other life-threatening diseases. Insurance plans also can’t put annual dollar limits on essential health benefits.
• Individuals who can afford it must have basic health insurance coverage, referred to in the ACA as “minimum essential coverage.”
• Individuals and families who need help affording coverage may have access to financial assistance when they shop in the new health insurance exchanges.

• Call the department’s toll-free hotline at 800-432-2484.
• For more detailed information about the ACA and its key provisions, visit the federal government’s website at www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

The Health Insurance Marketplace is the federal health insurance exchange in Kansas. The health insurance exchanges are places where individuals, families, and small employers can compare private health insurance plans and shop for coverage. Exchanges also provide access to a new type of tax credit to help lower and middle-income individuals pay for coverage. Through exchanges, many lower-income individuals can get help to reduce their out-of-pocket costs (deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments) when they receive health care services. Insurers may sell plans through the exchange as well as in the market outside the exchange. Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are not available for plans outside the exchange.

To apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, individuals and families should visits HealthCare.gov. For more general information about health insurance exchanges, visit the federal government’s website https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-health-insurance-marketplace.

In Kansas, the Health Insurance Marketplace and SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses are federally facilitated exchanges; however, the federal government relies on the Kansas Insurance Department to approve plans and review rates, provide consumer assistance and perform other regulatory roles.

Under the ACA, there is a program called the Multi-State Program (MSP) administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). There will not be a MSP (multi-state plan) available through the Health Insurance Marketplace in Kansas for 2017. OPM, contracts with private insurance companies to offer MSPs on the exchange. More information about the MSP is available on OPM’s website: http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/multi-state-plan-program

If a consumer doesn’t have access to coverage through their employer (or their spouse’s employer), they should apply for coverage in the state where they live.

In Kansas, any individual or family may buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The only people who can’t are those who aren’t legally in the United States or who are incarcerated (other than pending disposition of charges).

Small employers (employers with 50 or fewer employees) may buy health insurance for their employees through the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses by contacting Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas/BlueCross BlueShield Kansas Solutions or Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the insurers offers SHOP plans in Kansas.

In Kansas, individuals and families may enroll through the Health Insurance Marketplace from November 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017.

Coverage becomes effective on January 1, 2017 for people who sign up between November 1 and December 15, 2016. Following that, coverage is effective on the first day of the following month if a consumer enrolls by the 15th. If after the 15th, coverage will be delayed an additional month. During this open enrollment period, consumers will be able to change plans, change insurance companies or stay with the plan they have if it is still available.

Consumers also may be eligible to enroll in coverage at times other than the open enrollment period. There are special enrollment periods for individuals or families if they have a “qualifying life event”. Some examples include: loss of qualifying health coverage; change in household size; change in primary place of living; change in eligibility for marketplace coverage or help paying for coverage; enrollment or plan error; and other qualifying changes.

Contact the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2484 or the Health Insurance Marketplace at 800-318-2596 for information about whether a consumer might be eligible to enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace during a special enrollment period.

Health plans sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace are required to meet comprehensive standards for items and services that must be covered. To help consumers compare costs, plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace are organized in four tiers, or four levels of generosity of the cost-sharing that each plan includes:

• Bronze level – The plan must cover 60% of expected costs across a standard population. This is the lowest level of coverage.
• Silver level – The plan must cover 70% of expected costs across a standard population.
• Gold level – The plan must cover 80% of expected costs across a standard population.
• Platinum level – The plan must over 90% of expected costs across a standard population. This is the highest level of coverage.

Also, catastrophic plans are offered, and will cover the same services. But, their coverage will be less generous than the Bronze level plans. A catastrophic plan may be less expensive option for those who are eligible: only young adults under 30 and individuals who have a hardship exemption from the individual mandate are allowed to purchase catastrophic plans. Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are not available for catastrophic plans and they cannot be used with Health Savings Accounts.

Also, stand-alone dental plans are available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The tiers are a way to categorize plans based on actuarial value. Plans within each tier have a similar actuarial value, even if they cover benefits differently or have different cost-sharing. While all plans in a tier must cover essential health benefits, the details of their coverage (such as how many physical therapy visits are covered or which prescription drugs are covered) may be different. Some plans may offer benefits in addition to the essential health benefits.

Actuarial value compares how much the insurance company will pay versus how much you will pay for health care costs. The percentage the plan pays depends on the cost-sharing details - how much out-of-pocket the consumer pays for deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments and the out-of-pocket limits. The percentage is an estimate of what the plan will pay for all policyholders. Your individual benefits may be more or less.

Actuarial value only reflects differences in cost-sharing. It doesn’t give any other information about a plan that may be important to a particular person or affect their costs. It doesn’t tell you how broad or narrow a plan’s provider network is, the quality of the provider network, about the plan’s customer service and support, how broad or narrow the drug formulary is, or the premium levels. All of this information is important for consumers to consider when they choose a plan.

See www.healthcare.gov/how-do-i-choose-marketplace-insurance for additional information for consumers about actuarial value.

There are listings of the health plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov and the SHOP Marketplace for Small Business at healthcare.gov/small-business. People without access to the Internet can call the customer service line for the Health Insurance Marketplace at 800-318-2596, and for the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses at 800-706-7893, or get help from an agent or other type of assistor.

All individual and small group plans that are not grandfathered plans or otherwise renewed that are offered after January 1, 2014 cover essential health benefits.

To learn if a specific benefit is covered, and at what level, check a plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). An SBC is a uniform document that includes details about what a plan does and doesn’t cover. It also includes information about what kinds of costs a consumer can expect to pay out-of-pocket, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. An SBC comes with plans offered through the exchange and in the market outside the exchange. It gives information in the same way for every plan to make it easier to compare plans. The SBC forms are available through the Health Insurance Marketplace or from an agent for plans offered in the market outside the exchange.

The Health Insurance Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov includes information about what each plan covers and links to the insurer’s plan brochures.

Consumers can read more about the Summary of Benefits and Coverage here.

Today, every insurance company and group health plan must give consumers a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and glossary of commonly-used terms both before they enroll and each year at plan renewal time. Through an SBC, consumers can compare insurance options based on covered benefits, excluded services, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs, as well as other features that may be important to them.

An SBC is designed to help consumers compare plans and understand the benefits and coverage limits of their plan in clear and concise language.

In addition to getting an SBC, the Health Insurance Marketplace allows consumers to get information about the health plan options available online, through the Marketplace’s toll-free telephone number, 800-318-2596, or from agents, navigators or certified application counselors.

A copy of the form for an SBC can be found at http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Forms-Reports-and-Other-Resources/Downloads/sample-completed-sbc.doc

The Health Insurance Marketplace is set up to let consumers compare policies on the basis of price, actuarial value and other factors. Consumers can get this information from the Health Insurance Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov or call center 800-318-2596. Also, agents, navigators, and certified application counselors should be able to help consumers compare rates.

Consumer will not be able to see the cost of a specific service or benefit unless that service or benefit is provided through a stand-alone dental plan.

Yes. Under the ACA, health insurance companies can ask about tobacco use before they enroll a consumer in a plan, and can then charge consumers who use tobacco products higher premium. This additional premium is not eligible for premium tax credits. Consumers in group plans may not have to pay this extra charge if they complete a tobacco cessation program.

The ACA requires plans sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace to include vision coverage for children, but there is no process for offering a stand-alone vision plan through the Marketplace. Dental benefits are treated differently. The ACA lets insurance companies offer health plans through the Marketplace that do and don’t include pediatric dental benefits. The Marketplace also offers stand-alone dental plans that include pediatric dental benefits. In Kansas some medical plans on the Marketplace offer pediatric dental and others do not. Stand-alone dental plans for children and adults are available.

If a consumer has minimum essential health coverage from another source, they may buy a stand-alone dental plan on the Marketplace without purchasing medical coverage.

Check the federal website HealthCare.gov for more information about dental benefits.

After January 1, 2014, new plans sold in the individual and small group market, including those sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace and SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses, as well as most plans sold in the market outside the exchange, must cover, at a minimum, a comprehensive set of benefits known as essential health benefits. These essential health benefits include the following:

• Ambulatory services (doctor’s office visits and outpatient services)
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance abuse disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services, including chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

For more detailed information about essential health benefits in the Health Insurance Marketplace, visit the NAIC website at http://www.naic.org/index_health_reform_section.htm under Essential Health Benefits Data from The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO).

No, consumers can’t take benefits out of a plan. At a minimum, every health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace must provide coverage for all of the essential health benefits the ACA requires. Even though a person may not need every benefit in a plan, plans must cover all the essential benefits to share risk across a broad pool of consumers and be sure all benefits are available for everyone. This also help to protect people from risks they can’t always predict across their lifetimes.

No. Under the ACA, health insurance companies can no longer limit coverage based on a person’s health condition, called “pre-existing conditions.” Nor can they charge a higher premium because of a person’s health condition. These protections apply whether a person buys coverage through the exchange or outside the exchange.

Preventive benefits are designed to keep people healthy by providing screening for early detection of certain health conditions or to help prevent illnesses. The ACA requires that plans except grandfathered plans cover many preventive services with no out-of-pocket costs (meaning no deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance). Some of these covered preventive services are:

• Colorectal cancer screenings, including polyp removal for individuals over age 50
• Immunizations and vaccines for adults and children
• Counseling to help adults stop smoking
• Blood pressure screening for adults
• Cholesterol and diabetes screening for certain adults
• Well-woman checkups, as well as mammograms and cervical cancer screenings
• Well-baby and well-child exams for children

Unless an insurer does not have an in-network provider to perform a particular preventative service, plans are permitted to charge for these preventative services when performed by an out-of-network provider.

For more detailed information about covered preventive service, visit the federal government’s website at: http://www.healthcare.gov/what-are-my-preventive-care-benefits.

Health insurers keep lists of which drugs are covered and which are covered at the lowest cost for each of their plans. These lists are called formularies. Drug cost-sharing is often “tiered;” that is, consumers pay less for a generic drug, more for a brand-name drug, and sometimes even more for a non-preferred brand-name drug. Consumers should review the formularies in any plan they select to be sure they meet their prescription drug needs and to know what cost sharing is required for any given drug. For plans that use formularies, statements of benefits and coverage include an internet address for obtaining information on the plan’s drug coverage, and the Health Insurance Marketplace includes links to company formularies. Consumers also can call the health insurer for help.

Services are considered out-of-network if they’re from a doctor , hospital, or other provider that doesn’t have a contractual relationship with a particular health plan. Not all plans cover out-of-network services, but when they do, a consumer’s share of the cost is usually higher than an in-network service. Consumer may want to find out whether a provider is in-network before they receive services. Consumers may also want to find out if their regular health care providers are in-network before they buy a plan.

Though the ACA limits how much money a person is required to spend on his or her family’s health care, out-of-network services do not count toward these limits.

A plan’s Statement of Benefits and Coverage will include information about coverage for out-of-network services.

The Health Insurance Marketplace and the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses include links to insurance company websites that will let consumers look up whether or not their doctor is in a plan’s network. It’s always a good idea to also check with the doctor or dentist before you schedule an appointment to learn if the information on the website is up to date.

Yes, the ACA requires any health plan that provides benefits for emergency services to cover then regardless of whether the provider is in or out of the network. Under the ACA, health plans aren’t allowed to charge a higher copayment or coinsurance for out of network services received in an emergency. In addition, Kansas prohibits balance billing for emergency care received out-of-network, meaning only in-network rates will apply for all emergency care.

A grandfathered health plan is a plan that has existed continuously since before March 23, 2010 without significant changes in the plan. Grandfathered plans aren’t subject to many of the requirements of the ACA, such as the requirement that plans cover essential health benefits.

Grandfathered plans that make certain change, such as significant increases in their cost-sharing, (such as coinsurance, deductibles, copayments), or eliminating benefits to diagnose or treat a particular condition may lose grandfathered status and then would have to follow the ACA. Employer-sponsored plans that substantially raise the employee share of the premium also could lose grandfathered status.

A plans must indicate in the plan material if it is a grandfathered plan. Also, consumers can check with their insurance company or employer.

In November 2013, the Obama Administration announced a transitional policy that would permit certain policyholders to keep their 2013 coverage for another year if the plan did not comply with certain ACA reforms. In March 2014, the Administration extended this transitional policy to allow renewal of these plans for policy years beginning up to October 1, 2016. These transitional plans may not be sold as new plans, only renewals.

Eligibility for premium assistance and enrollment in a health plan is decided annually using updated income, family size, and tax information (when authorized). Each year, before the open enrollment period, the Health Insurance Marketplace will check income data and send a notice to consumers who are enrolled through the Marketplace. This notice explains the consumer’s eligibility for the upcoming year and tells the consumer to let the Marketplace know of any changes. Insurance companies also are required to send notice providing information including premium cost for the new year. After this, there will be an annual open enrollment period for consumers to change plans or insurance companies if they want to. For 2017, consumers enrolled through the Marketplace will be auto-renewed in their current plan, if still available, and with the same subsidies as 2016. Exceptions will be consumers who failed to give the Marketplace authority to re-check their income or if their income is found much higher than previously declared, in which case they will be auto-renewed without subsidies.

During the year consumers must report any changes in circumstances to the Health Insurance Marketplace without 30 days of experiencing the change. Changes include changes in income from a new job. Consumers who have not requested financial assistance do not need to report changes related to financial assistance eligibility. The Marketplace will review available data sources or individuals who become eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP.

If consumers did not enroll during the open enrollment period they may be eligible to enroll during a special enrollment period under certain circumstances. A few examples of special enrollment periods are when an individual or dependent loses health insurance coverage, an individual gains a dependent or becomes a dependent through marriage, birth or adoption, or an individual moves into a new exchange service area.

Under the ACA, starting January 1, 2014, consumers and their dependent children were required to have “minimum essential coverage” or pay a penalty, unless they fit within an exemption. This requirement is commonly known as the “individual mandate.”

Consumers may buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace to satisfy the individual mandate, but they don’t have to. Other forms of health coverage that satisy the requirement to have “minimum essential coverage” include most employer-sponsored plans, union plans and enrollment in a government program such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE or CHIP. Consumers can continue to use agents to buy insurance available in the market outside the exchange.

Some examples of health plans that do not meet the requirement of minimum essential coverage and do not satisfy the individual mandate requirement to have basic health care coverage are plans that cover only specific or ancillary services (for example, hearing, chiropractic, etc).

Check the website www.healthcare.gov/fees-exemptions/fee-for-not-being-covered/ for more information.

Those who don’t have health insurance coverage or fit within an exemption will pay a tax penalty. The penalty is set to increase each year as follows:

• In 2016, it will be the greater of $695 per adult, or 2.5% of taxable income above the filing limit.
• After 2016, the tax penalty increases for inflation annually based on a cost-of-living adjustment.

The penalty starts after three months without coverage. For each month, the penalty due is 1/12 of the total annual penalty. The penalty for a child is half that of an adult. The total liability for a family is capped at 300% of the individual penalty. Only the first two children are counted to calculate the penalty.

Yes. The ACA lists the following who aren’t required to pay a penalty if they don’t have health insurance coverage:

• Individuals and families whose income is low enough that they don’t need to file federal income tax returns,
• People who would pay 8% or more of the income for coverage, after taking premium tax credits and employer contributions into account,
• Individuals who have been uninsured for less than three months,
• People who are incarcerated,
• Individuals who aren’t lawfully present in the country,
• Members of federally recognized American Indian tribes and individuals who are not members of federally recognized American Indian tribes who can get services through an Indian health care provider,
• People who don’t have coverage because they belong to a religious group that objects to insurance coverage,
• People who are members of a health care sharing ministry, and
• People who experience hardship in obtaining coverage.

There’s more information about who doesn’t have to pay a penalty if they don’t have health insurance in the IRS FAQ at: www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/Individuals-and-Families/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision.

The process for getting an exemption from the individual mandate depends on the consumer’s reason for getting the exemption. The federal website, www.healthcare.gov has instructions, including online forms, for consumers to use to get an exemption.

Consumers with health insurance coverage don’t need to do anything, unless their insurance company sends them a notice that their health insurance doesn’t qualify as “Minimum Essential Coverage.” Consumers who get such a notice may have to pay a tax penalty for not having adequate health insurance coverage. To avoid this, contact the Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov or 800-318-2596, or contact an agent or navigator.

Consumers should make a list of questions before they shop for a health plan. Consumers should gather information about household income and set a budget for health insurance. Consumers should find out if they can stay with their current doctors and pharmacy, and understand how insurance works – including getting an understanding of deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and copayments.

The Kansas Insurance Department offers resources on this website. There are a number of other resources from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to help consumers understand how insurance works, the different insurance options, and what to consider when you buy coverage.

The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), and the companion Uniform Glossary that includes a set of uniform definitions, are also available for all health insurance plans. This information can help consumers compare different insurance options. Consumers can get the form and definitions through the Health Insurance Marketplace or as the plan for it.

If a consumer is eligible to buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, he or she can enroll through the Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov, by phone at 800-318-2596, or in person through agents, navigators or certified application counselors.

There are three types of individuals trained to help consumers make decisions about health coverage.

• Insurance Agents – Health insurance agents sell insurance coverage on behalf of one or more insurance companies. Health insurance agents are licensed in Kansas and receive continuing education related to their job. They can help educate consumers about health insurance policies, help consumers apply for coverage, and advise consumers about the type of health insurance coverage that best suits them and their family. Agents can sell consumers insurance plans in the market outside the exchange, as they always have.
  Agents who want to sell policies through the Health Insurance Marketplace will have had extra training from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They will have passed a test at the end of their training to sell insurance policies through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Consumers may wish to talk with more than one agent before making a decision on which plan to buy.
• Navigators – are individuals trained to help consumers understand the insurance policies available through the Health Insurance Marketplace and answer consumer questions about the Marketplace as we as insurance affordability programs, including Medicaid and CHIP. Navigators also can help educate consumers about their health insurance policy options and help them apply for coverage. Navigators get grants from the federal government and receive training on how to assist consumers. After training, they must pass a test and be certified by the federal government.
• Certified Application Counselors – are to provide enrollment assistance to consumers. Certified application counselors receive and successfully complete comprehensive training. They, too, can help educate consumers about health insurance plans and help them complete an application for coverage. Examples o application counselors include staff at local community health centers, hospitals or other consumer non-profit organizations.

Insurance agents may have an agreement with one or more insurance companies that will pay them if they enroll consumers in a health insurance policy consistent with state law. Other agents may work directly for an insurance company and be paid a salary by the company.

In Kansas, navigator organizations receive funding from the federal government. Individual navigators may be volunteers or in some cases staff paid by the organization. They don’t receive enrollment-based reimbursement from insurance companies and are not allowed to charge a fee.

Certified application counselors may be paid staff of the organization for which they work but will not be paid through the Health Insurance Marketplace. They don’t receive enrollment-based reimbursement from insurance companies and are not allowed to charge a fee. They may, however, receive federal funding through other grant programs or Medicaid, or from another source.

The Health Insurance Marketplace should be able to help consumers with enrollment problems. In particular, the Marketplace operates a call center to help answer consumer questions. The number for the call center is 800-318-2596. Insurance agents, navigators and certified application counselors should also be able to help.

In Kansas, navigators can help consumers log-on to the Health Insurance Marketplace. Consumers will log into their own Marketplace account. The navigator can help consumers as needed to complete the application. Consumers will be asked to enter the navigator’s Marketplace user identification on the application to show that the navigator helped them.

The navigator can help consumers to compare qualified health plans and answer questions about health insurance policies in general. The navigator can answer questions from consumers about the differences in health plans and what they might mean for them, but the navigator cannot recommend or suggest which health plan would be best for consumers and their families. Navigators are not permitted to collect premium payments on behalf of an insurer or the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Navigators cannot sell, solicit, or negotiate a qualified health plan through the Marketplace. They cannot suggest that one health plan would be better for the individual than another.

No, a consumer is not required to share personal information, including tax returns with an agent, navigator, or certified application counselor. If a consumer is completing the application on the Health Insurance Marketplace website with the help of an agent, navigator or counselor, the consumer should be able to fill out and submit their eligibility application without the agent, navigator or counselor in direct view of the application. Income figures obtained from the IRS are not displayed during the application process, whether or not the consumer gets help filling out the application or does it independently. After training, agents, navigators, and certified application counselors must complete a privacy and security agreement before use of the Health Insurance Marketplace.

No. Agents, navigators, and certified application counselors shouldn’t ask for a consumer’s account username and password. If a consumer is asked to share a username or password, he or she should contact the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2484 and discuss this with a consumer assistance representative.

An agent, navigator, or certified application counselor working with consumers eligible for Medicaid or CHIP is expected to refer consumers to KanCare, the state Medicaid and CHIP program. Agent, navigator, and certified application counselor training will include information about where to direct Medicaid or CHIP-eligible consumers.

Navigators, by law, aren’t allowed to sell health insurance unless they have an agent license. They are available to help small employers view plan options and can assist consumers with enrolling through the SHOP. Navigators can explain the parts of the plans offered through the SHOP Marketplace but cannot legally offer advice as to which plan is a better fit for the small employer. Only a licensed agent is qualified and allowed to offer this service.

Yes, consumers may buy Health Insurance Marketplace coverage directly from an insurance company selling on the Marketplace. Consumers should make sure that the plan they are sold is a Marketplace plan, and that the insurer has an agreement to do direct enrollment through the Marketplace so they can get any tax credits or cost sharing reductions to which they are entitled.

Consumers enrolling directly through the insurance company portal may not see all plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

There will be a wide variety of plans intended to fit different budgets, both through the Health Insurance Marketplace and in the market outside the exchange. Also, many consumers will qualify for the new premium tax credits, which will pay for part of their premium and help lower the cost of coverage. You can go to HealthCare.gov or call 800-432-2484, or talk to an insurance agent, a navigator, or certified application counselor.

The health insurance plan choices feature a wide variety of out-of-pocket costs for consumers. But, the ACA requires that all plans limit consumer’s annual out-of-pocket costs for services to no more than roughly $7,150 for individuals and $14,300 for families in 2017. However, out-of-network services do not count toward these limits on annual out-of-pocket costs. There are separate out-of pocket maximums for stand-alone dental plans. Plans are also required to cover certain preventive services without cost-sharing.

For 2016 the maximum out-of-pocket is $6,850 for individuals and $13,700 for families.

Also, consumers whose incomes are below a certain amount may be able to buy a plan that features lower cost-sharing and lower out-of-pocket costs (copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles) without paying a higher premium. Check with the Health Insurance Marketplace, agents, navigators or certified application counselors to learn if you qualify.

Consumers may apply with either the Health Insurance Marketplace through HealthCare.gov, or kancare.ks.gov for Medicaid.

The Health Insurance Marketplace will determine eligibility for advance payments of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. They will also assess Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and make a referral, if appropriate, to KanCare for a final determination.

Consumers who first apply to KanCare for Medicaid and are determined ineligible, will be referred to the Health Insurance Marketplace to see if they are eligible to purchase subsidized insurance.

The ACA created premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions to help cut costs for eligible consumers who buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The amount of the tax credit or cost sharing reduction depends on family size and income. Larger families and families with lower incomes get the most help. Tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are not available for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, or qualifying employer-sponsored coverage. For information on tax credits and cost-sharing reductions see HealthCare.gov.

In Kansas, children may be able to get coverage through Medicaid or CHIP programs for which their parents aren’t eligible. Some families may find it more affordable to enroll their children in Medicaid or CHIP and have the parents buy coverage through the Marketplace.

Finally, because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, some individuals may find themselves in a gap with income too high for Medicaid but too low to qualify for insurance subsidies.

Consumers who qualify for the tax credits can use them at any time - they don’t have to wait until they file their taxes. The advance payment is sent by the federal government to the insurance company that a consumer chooses and is used to reduce the monthly insurance premium. Consumers also have the choice to wait to use their tax credits until they file their taxes. They also can use just part of their estimated tax credit in advance.

Consumers who want to use their tax credit in advance need to be as accurate as possible to estimate how much income they expect to have in the coming year. If they underestimate their income and the tax credit is overestimated, they may have to repay part of their tax credits at tax time.

Consumers need to update the Health Insurance Marketplace during the year with any changes in income, family size (like having a baby), or employment (like getting a job where health insurance coverage is offered). The Health Insurance Marketplace will change the tax credit amount to reflect the new information. A consumer who forgets to update the Health Insurance Marketplace might owe money at tax time or realize they could have been using a larger tax credit amount in advance.

Consumers who don’t use the tax credit in advance don’t have to tell the Health Insurance Marketplace about any changes to their income, or employment during the year. They can get the tax credit on their tax returns.

Consumers may go to the Health Insurance Marketplace website through HealthCare.gov, or call the Marketplace at 800-318-2596 for more information about tax credits. Agents, navigators, and certified application counselors, insurance agents are also able to give consumers information about the tax credit. There’s more information about premium tax credits on the federal website at HealthCare.gov.

The federal poverty level is how the federal government defines poverty, and it’s used to decide who’s eligible for premium tax credits and reduced cost-sharing on the Marketplace, as well as other programs like Medicaid and CHIP. FPL is based on a family’s annual income and family size. Premium tax credits may be available to Kansans who are at 100% to 400% of the FPL. Cost-sharing reductions may be available until a family’s income reaches 250% of the FPL.

Contact kancare.ks.gov, for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the state Medicaid agency, with any questions or concerns about Medicaid and the ACA. Also, the HHS website has basic information about Medicaid posted at HealthCare.gov.

As much as possible, the Health Insurance Marketplace can use existing data sources or get information from various federal and state agencies, such as the IRS, to verify income. This is designed to ensure a high degree of program integrity and should reduce the amount of paperwork that consumers need to provide.

There will be situations in which income documentation is needed.

There are separate processes for income verification for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, vs. Medicaid and CHIP. For premium tax credits, and cost-sharing reductions, as well as Medicaid and CHIP assessment, the Health Insurance Marketplace will use data from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and other income data sources as a part of the verification process. In Kansas, the state KanCare program will make final Medicaid and CHIP determinations and will request any documentation needed.

In Kansas, health insurance coverage continues to be available in the market outside the Health Insurance Marketplace that meets the requirement to have health insurance. However, if consumers want to take advantage of premium tax credits to help pay for part of their premiums they must buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Consumers also can buy plans outside the Marketplace that don’t cover the essential health benefits, such as plans that cover only specific or ancillary services (for example, cancer, hospital indemnity, etc.). These policies do not provide minimum essential coverage and will not satisfy the individual mandate. The NAIC has some resources discussing these types of plans:

www.insureuonline.org/consumer_guide_cancer.pdf

You may want to contact an insurance agent for help.

Consumers who already have coverage for themselves are eligible to buy a policy for a child through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The ACA requires that any health plan offered through the exchange must also be offered as a child-only plan at the same tier of coverage. Consumers may also be eligible for tax credits for child-only plans they buy through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov for more information about child-only plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Children who aren’t citizens or legal residents of the United States aren’t eligible for plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Consumers may be able to buy a child-only policy outside the Health Insurance Marketplace, either directly from an insurer or through an agent. For a list of licensed insurers in Kansas, visit www.ksinsurance.org/department/company-search.php.

A child also may be eligible for the Kansas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To learn more about CHIP plans, visit www.kdheks.gov/hcf/medical_assistance/apply_for_assistance.html or www.insurekidsnow.gov.

Medicare coverage, Medicare Supplement insurance, and Medicare Advantage plans are not available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Direct questions involving the ACA and Medicare, Medicare Supplement insurance, or Medicare Advantage Plans to Senior Health Insurance Counseling For Kansas (SHICK) www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/commission-on-aging/medicare-programs/shick or call 800-860-5260. The federal government’s Medicare website, www.medicare.gov, also has more information about health reform and Medicare changes.

No. ACA doesn’t change the cost sharing for Medicare supplement policies.

The ACA began closing the “donut hole” in 2011, and it’s expected that the “donut hole” will be closed by 2020. This means that Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs are greater than the Part D deductible will need to pay only a 25% coinsurance rate until their expenditures reach the catastrophic level. The “donut hole” is being closed by combining a 50% discount on the cost of brand-name drugs and a gradual increase in the share of prescription drug costs for both generics and brand-name drugs that Medicare pays, until a beneficiary only owes 25% of the total cost.

Yes. The ACA implemented quality incentives for Medicare Advantage plans. Also, it limited plans’ ability to require cost-sharing on certain high-cost services. So, some Medicare Advantage plans may cover more costs. The ACA also cut the Medicare Advantage program to line up payments for Medicare Advantage plans more closely with the traditional Medicare program. This may mean higher premiums or reduced coverage under some Medicare Advantage plans.

The Health Insurance Marketplace doesn’t include long-term care insurance policies, and policies sold on the Marketplace don’t typically cover long-term care services. Insurance agents still sell long-term care insurance outside the exchange. See Long Term Care for more information about long-term care insurance.

Generally, there’s nothing consumers need to do because of the ACA if they’re already on Medicare and have employer-based coverage. If consumers have coverage through an employer, and that employer’s current benefits pay first and Medicare pays second, the ACA doesn’t change that.

If the employer changes the benefits that cover consumers or their dependents, then they will send consumers a notice about those changes. Consumers can ask their employer’s human resources department how those changes work with Medicare.

The Senior Health Insurance Counseling For Kansas (SHICK), 800-860-5260 or at www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/commission-on-aging/medicare-programs/shick should be able to give consumers more information about how their existing coverage works with Medicare.

The new federal law doesn’t change those benefits. Consumers should contact their employer’s human resources department for help. If they need more information about how Medicare and retiree benefits work together, they can contact the Senior Health Insurance Counseling For Kansas (SHICK) at www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/commission-on-aging/medicare-programs/shick or call 800-860-5260.

No, there is still private health insurance under the ACA. The ACA created health insurance exchanges where consumers can compare and shop for private insurance plans. The ACA also sets many new federal rules and protections that apply to private health insurance plans in each state.

Yes, premiums may vary based on a person’s age, the area of the state in which the policy is sold, tobacco use, and family composition. Under the ACA, these are the only factors that an insurance company can use when they set premiums. Insurance companies can’t refuse to insure or charge higher premiums to consumers with medical problems. The ACA also reduces the difference in premiums charged for younger and older people and eliminates differences between premiums charged for men and women. Health plans in the individual and small group markets must, under the ACA, cover certain services.

To help make coverage affordable, many consumers who buy health insurance in the individual market will be eligible for premium tax credits, and consumers under age 30 or who can’t afford coverage may be eligible to buy catastrophic plans, which cost less.

The ACA explicitly prohibits insurance companies from discriminating on the basis of age, disability, or expected length of life. The ACA regulations prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. These nondiscrimination standards apply to the Exchanges and Exchange activities; issuers and insurance plans; and the essential health benefits among others.

Also, health insurers must comply with any applicable state laws and regulations regarding marketing by health insurance issuers and cannot employ marketing practices or benefit designs that will have the effect of discouraging the enrollment of individuals with significant health needs in health insurance coverage or discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, national origin, present or predicted disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, expected length of life, degree of medical dependency, quality of life, or other health conditions.

Insurance companies won’t pay for services not covered by a plan, such as care that isn’t medically necessary. However, consumers have the right to ask their insurance company to reconsider a decision to deny coverage and, after that, consumers have the right to an independent external review of the decision.

Accreditation is a comprehensive process by private, non-profit organizations that review how well health plans deliver care and how they work to improve the delivery of care over time. Health plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace must be certified by a recognized accrediting body, such as URAQ at www.urac.org, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) at www.ncqa.org and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) at www.aaahc.org.

Part of a health plan’s certification requires that the plan be accredited by a recognized accrediting entity within a timeframe set by the Health Insurance Marketplace. Accreditation ensures that the plans sold on the Health Insurance Marketplace meet minimum quality, access, non-discrimination and marketing standards in the ACA.

Consumer experience ratings come from surveys that ask individuals who have coverage through a health insurance plan how they like the plan. These individuals also rate the quality of the medical care they receive and the accessibility of the medical care that they need.

Consumers have a right to appeal an unfavorable coverage decision by their health insurance company. Insurance companies must give consumers owning an individual policy a first-level internal appeal, administered by the company, and then a second-level external review administered by an independent third party. For group policies, the insurance company may require two levels of internal appeals before the external review. For more information about how to appeal a health insurance company’s unfavorable decision, contact the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2484.

Consumers can also file complaints when claims are denied, or when they believe that their health insurance company isn’t properly following the legal appeals process. To reach the Kansas Insurance Department, consumers can call 800-432-2484 or www.ksinsurance.org/department/complaint.php.

Also, if a consumer is dissatisfied with an eligibility decision made by the Health Insurance Marketplace there is an appeals process. The consumer can contact the Marketplace for more information.

Consumers can first contact the insurance company with any complaint about benefits or services not being received from an insurer on or off the Marketplace. If consumers aren’t satisfied, they should contact the Kansas Insurance Department with help with questions or complaints.

To find out more about filing complaints, contact the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2484 or www.ksinsurance.org/department/complaint.php.

In Kansas, insurance companies will have policies for sale in the market outside the Marketplace. Enrollment periods outside the Health Insurance Marketplace generally are the same as enrollment periods through the Marketplace. Contact the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2482 or an insurance agent for more information about enrollment.

Yes, under the ACA insurance companies can’t refuse to insure consumers with chronic or preexisting medical conditions, excluding coverage for preexisting conditions, or charge higher premiums because of a health or medical condition. The ACA also requires insurance companies in the individual and small employer markets to offer more comprehensive coverage than was available for some people with chronic illnesses. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, or expected length of life. Coverage for these benefits is available from the beginning of the policy coverage period, without a waiting period, even if there was not prior coverage.

The ACA includes an exemption from the individual mandate for individuals who are members of a health care sharing ministry. This type of organization is not licensed as an insurance company and doesn’t guarantee payment of health care claims or expenses.

No. Undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace or for advance premium tax credits. They may be able to buy coverage from an insurance company or through an agent off the Marketplace.

Consumers won’t be able to buy a policy through the Health Insurance Marketplace for children who aren’t citizens or legal residents, but they may be able to buy coverage from an insurance company or through an agent off the Marketplace.

No. Incarcerated people aren’t eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. They also aren’t eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credits. However, consumers who are incarcerated pending the disposition of charges still are eligible.

Yes. Members of federally-recognized Indian tribes may buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. They’re also eligible for premium tax credits. And, because of the federal government’s special trust responsibility, members of federally-recognized Indian tribes are eligible to receive benefits not available to others, such as plans with no cost-sharing under certain circumstances and special enrollment periods. For more information, go to www.healthcare.gov/american-indians-alaska-natives.

The ACA’s ”medical loss ratio” (MLR) requirement is that health insurers must spend at least a certain percentage of consumers’ premium dollars on direct medical care and health care quality improvement. That limits the amount of premium dollars spent on administrative expenses, such as overhead, marketing, salaries, and profit.

The ACA requires that health insurance companies providing coverage in the large employer market must spend at least 85% of premiums on direct medical care and quality improvement activities. Health insurers who provide coverage in the small employer market and individual market must spend at least 80% of premiums on direct medical care and quality improvement activities.

Under federal law, if a health insurer doesn’t meet the MLR target of premiums spent on direct medical care or quality improvement activities, then that health insurer must give consumers or employers a rebate for the amount of premiums they collected that was greater than the target.

Yes. Working with individuals you know personally or know to be working for legitimate organizations is a dependable way to avoid fraud.

When consumers contact the Health Insurance Marketplace, they’ll have the option to contact a navigator specifically trained to help them choose the best health coverage or insurance product for their needs. Certified Application Counselors also are available through trusted community health centers, other health care providers, hospitals, or many social service agencies.

When consumers are buying a plan because the ACA requires them to have insurance coverage, consumers should be sure they’re given a “Summary of Benefits and Coverage” (SBC). This form also should be available through the Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. The SBC will indicate whether a particular insurance plan provides “minimum essential coverage.”

Remember this simple formula: STOP - CALL - CONFIRM

• STOP - Consumers should ask the person for identification and a phone number where they may be reached later. If the person refuses to give this information for any reason, or tries to pressure them into signing any document, consumers should immediately hang up, close their door, or walk away. Consumers should NOT volunteer their Social Security number or a credit/debit card number to anyone unless they personally know the individual. Likewise, they should NOT sign any paperwork or write a check.
• CALL - Consumers should then contact the Kansas Insurance Department or the Health Insurance Marketplace. The insurance company or agent must be licensed with the Kansas Insurance Department before they can sell coverage and counsel consumers about the Health Insurance Marketplace. The department also will have information about federally registered navigators.
• CONFIRM - Consumers always should confirm that the company or agent offering insurance coverage, or the navigator trying to provide assistance, is authorized to provide information or coverage before they sign any documents or give any personal information.

Remember that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Under the ACA, if an employer with 50 or more employees doesn’t offer coverage that meets minimum standards for employees and their dependents, and employees access premium tax credits through the exchange, the employer may have to pay a tax penalty. However, the proposed rules about employer shared responsibility have interpreted the phrase “and their dependents” to mean children under age 26, but not spouses. Small employers with fewer than 50 employees aren’t required to offer coverage to employees or their dependents.

Also, if employer-based coverage includes children, the ACA requires the employer to let children up to age 26 stay on their parent’s policy. Adult children can stay on their parent’s policy whether or not they live in the parent’s home, are married, or the parent no longer claims them as a dependent on their tax return. The employee can be required to pay for this coverage, however.

Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), a federal health law since 1986, when an employee and his or her dependents lose employer-based coverage they’re still eligible to stay on their employer’s group health plan, even though that coverage would otherwise end. COBRA does not apply to employers with fewer than 20 employees. In Kansas, for those not eligible for COBRA, state law allows for continuation of coverage for 18 months.

However, COBRA and state continuation coverage can be expensive, since the former employer isn’t required to pay any part of the premium. Those who have lost employer-based health coverage may be eligible to access new tax credits to buy a more affordable individual or family policy through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

No. COBRA allows group health plan participants and beneficiaries to continue coverage under their group health plan for a limited period of time after certain events, such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the number of hours worked, transition between jobs, death, and divorce. If an individual loses eligibility for minimum essential coverage, including employment-based coverage, he or she will be eligible for a special enrollment period during which he or she can purchase coverage on the exchange or in the individual market outside of it. At this time, the individual may also apply for advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions if he or she is eligible to receive them. If an individual has already enrolled in COBRA coverage, however, he or she must wait until the next open enrollment period or until that COBRA coverage has been exhausted before enrolling in an individual market plan.

Yes, employers may require a waiting period before individuals become eligible for benefits. Under the ACA, this waiting period can’t be longer than 90 days. In addition, employers may impose a one-month orientation period. For more information, contact your employer’s human resources department or review the health plan’s Statement of Benefits and Coverage.

A consumer who has access to employer-based coverage is free to buy a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. But tax credits to buy the coverage are only available if the employer’s plan isn’t affordable or doesn’t provide minimum value. If a consumer has access to employer-sponsored coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value, the consumer will not be able to get tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

Coverage isn’t affordable if the cost of employee-only coverage under the employer plan costs the consumer more than 9.5% of the employee’s annual household income. The plan doesn’t provide minimum value if it pays for less than 60% of medical costs that the plan covers.

An employer must provide a consumer with a minimum value written statement indicating whether the plan is above or below the 60% threshold. Consumers will receive this information together with the Statement of Benefits and Coverage when shopping for coverage through the SHOP Marketplace. The insurer, an agent, or navigator also should be able to help.

There’s more information on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Questions-and-Answers-on-Employer-Shared-Responsibility-Provisions-Under-the-Affordable-Care-Act.

If the spouse can enroll in the consumer’s employer-based plan, and the plan meets the standards for adequacy (including that the premium to cover only the employee is less than or equal to 9.5% of household income), the spouse isn’t eligible for the tax credit. Contact the Health Insurance Marketplace to learn more.

No. In 2017, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City and Blue Cross Blue Shield Solutions, Inc. are offering plans on the SHOP Marketplace in Kansas, one in Johnson and Wyandotte counties and the other throughout the rest of the state.

No. The ACA doesn’t require small employers to offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Small employers who want to provide coverage may be eligible for a tax credit to help make insurance more affordable.

If the employer does offer coverage, however, the coverage must meet ACA’s minimum standards for all insurance plans, as well as specific requirements that apply to the small group market, such as coverage of the essential health benefits.

In Kansas, the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses is a place where small employers can purchase coverage for their employees.

Under the ACA, if a large employer doesn’t offer affordable coverage that provides minimum value to full-time employees and their dependent children under 26, and an employee gets a premium tax credit, the employer has to pay a penalty. For employer-based coverage to be considered affordable, the premium for the plan’s employee-only option must be less than 9.5% of his or her annual household income. To offer minimum value, the plan must pay at least 60% of the medical costs for services the plan covers.

Large employers are employers with 50 or more full time employees, including full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Full-time employees are employees with 30 hours or more of service in a week. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees is determined by adding the number of hours of service in a month for all part-time workers and dividing by 120 hours per month. Employers should seek professional advice in making this calculation.

Employers with a large seasonal workforce (such as agricultural workers hired for the harvest season or retail clerks hired for the holiday season) are given leeway under the ACA not to count seasonal employees to decide if they meet the definition of a large employer. If the employer has more than 50 full-time or FTE employees only during 120 or fewer days per year, the employer may not have to count those employees for those months. Professional advice in making this determination is also recommended.

There’s detailed information on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Questions-and-Answers-on-Employer-Shared-Responsibility-Provisions-Under-the-Affordable-Care-Act.

Under the ACA, states may create small business health options programs (SHOP) exchanges, where small employers who want to offer coverage to their employees can shop for plans. In Kansas, this is the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses offered by the federal government. For 2017, under the federal SHOP in Kansas, employers will still select the plan that will be available to their employees, and enroll through the online SHOP Marketplace. Employers may be assisted by their insurer or agent.

There are resources for information about small employer issues and the ACA on the following websites:

• healthcare.gov/small-businesses
• www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/Employers/Small-Business-Health-Care-Tax-Credit-and-the-SHOP-Marketplace
• www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform
• www.sba.gov/healthcare

There’s no fee for small employers to use SHOP.

No. Insurers must charge the same for same plans whether they’re sold through SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses or in the market outside of the SHOP.

The small employer will still be eligible to buy health insurance through the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses because the employer had 50 or fewer at the time they first bought coverage through the SHOP.

To be eligible for the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses in Kansas, a small employer is defined as an employer with 2 to 50 full-time employees.

No. Small employers may buy health insurance for employees through SHOP or in the market outside the exchange. It will be important for small employers to understand and compare all options available to them. State licensed health insurance agents are available to help small employers compare options and determine which plan best meets their needs.

The federal government set the rate of 70% for the SHOP Marketplace in Kansas and most other states. Regardless of the participation rate, small employers must be allowed to purchase coverage during an annual enrollment period that begins November 15 and extends through December15 each year.

No. Neither federal nor state law lets insurers sell small group health insurance plans to self-employed individuals with no other employees. Self-employed individuals with no other employees can buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace for individuals or individual coverage outside the Marketplace.

Under the ACA, there is community rating in the small group market. This means that the rates people pay for their health insurance depend on the claims experience of the entire small group market in Kansas, rather than the claims experience of any single employer group.

Large employers may have to pay a tax penalty if they don’t offer affordable coverage that provides minimum value for at least 95% of their full-time employees and their dependents, or all but 5 full-time employees, whichever is greater, and at least one of their employees gets premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. For detailed information, employers should seek professional advice.

The penalty for a large employer that doesn’t offer coverage to full-time employees and their dependents is $2,000 multiplied by the number of applicable full-time employees, if at least one full-time employee has received a tax credit from the Health Insurance Marketplace. The first 30 employees are exempted in the count.

Similarly, the penalty for a large employer that offers coverage that isn’t affordable or doesn’t give minimum value is $3,000 multiplied by the number of full-time employees who are receiving tax credits. (The maximum penalty may not be greater than $2,000 multiplied by the total number of all full-time employees.)

Medicaid eligible employees can’t get tax credits, so employers will not face penalties for employees who receive Medicaid coverage or for children who receive CHIP coverage.

For an employer to qualify for federal small business tax credits, they must: (1) have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees; (2) pay employees an average annual wage of less than $50,000, and (3) pay at least half of the insurance premimums.

Contact the SHOP Marketplace for Small Businesses at 800-706-7893 for more information. A competent tax advisor also should be able to advise a small employer. There’s more information on the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov/uac/Small-Business-Health-Care-Tax-Credit-Questions-and-Answers:-Calculating-the-Credit.

A number of ACA requirements apply to non-grandfathered health plans that large employers offer on either an insured or self-insured basis. The requirements include limits on out-of-pocket expenditures and waiting periods, no annual or lifetime dollar limits on coverage of essential health benefits or cost sharing for preventive services, the requirement that coverage be offered to adult children up to age 26, and the requirement of access to internal and external appeals. Also, large employers are required to offer affordable and adequate coverage or face a tax penalty.

In Kansas, health insurance agents are regulated by the Kansas Insurance Department. Agents who can sell on the Health Insurance Marketplace also receive training and certification to sell on the Marketplace from the federal government. The insurance companies must appoint the insurance agents who sell their plans through the Marketplace and agents can only sell for plans that have appointed them.

In Kansas, health insurance companies appoint agents to sell for them. Insurance companies must make sure the agent’s license is valid and registered with the Health Insurance Marketplace. The insurance agent can help consumers log-on to the Marketplace. Consumers then log into their own Marketplace account. The agent can help consumers as needed. The agent will then work with consumers to complete the application. Consumers will be prompted to enter the agent’s Marketplace user identification and national producer number on the application to show that the professional helped them.

The agent can help consumers compare qualified health plans and submit the application. The insurance agent can answer questions from consumers about the differences in health plans and which plan would be best for consumers and their families.

Whether consumers are individuals or small group businesses, the insurance agent can work with their needs and requirements. Agents have a working knowledge of the qualified health plans and their benefits. Consumers may be more comfortable sharing their medical wants and needs for a health insurance policy with an agent.

The agent may help individual consumers or small employers to create their account with the Health Insurance Marketplace or SHOP Marketplace if needed, but consumers, or a legally authorized representative, must create their own Marketplace username and password. Consumers shouldn’t share this information with third parties, including health insurance agents.

If the consumer is using the Health Insurance Marketplace website with the help of an agent, all qualified heath plan choices will be displayed. If the agent goes through an insurance company portal, all plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace may not be shown but other plans available in the market outside the exchange, that aren’t eligible for the advance premium tax credit, may be shown. Consumers should ask the insurance agent if they’re being shown all of the plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace and whether tax credits or cost sharing reductions apply to the plans they are looking at.

All agents must follow applicable Kansas laws, regulations, and Health Insurance Marketplace requirements, including standards related to relationships or appointments with insurance companies.

Insurance agents may continue to communicate with consumers after they’ve enrolled in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, as long as the communications follow applicable laws and regulations.

The communications also must comply with the privacy and security standards adopted by the Health Insurance Marketplace which limit how an agent may use any information gained to provide help and services to qualified consumers.

Yes, licensed insurance agents are available to help small employers compare and determine which health plan best meets their needs, like they do today. This is true whether they’re interested in buying coverage in the market outside the SHOP Marketplace or through it.

Licensed insurance agents can compare plans in the market outside the SHOP against those offered through the SHOP Marketplace to decide where they can buy the best plan for them. Employers may wish to talk with more than one agent before making a decision on which plan to buy.

An insurance agent can help any small employer as they have in the past. The agent can help the employer decide which health insurance policy would be best for them, enroll employees in the plan, file health insurance claims, and understand the process of enrollment.

In the SHOP Marketplace, HHS expects that insurance agents will be in contact with employers both before and after enrollment, as they will be a primary contact for customer service issues.

Whether consumers are individuals or small group businesses, the insurance agent can work with their needs and requirements. Agents have a working knowledge of the qualified health plans and their benefits. Consumers may be more comfortable sharing their medical wants and needs for a health insurance policy with an agent.

The agent may help individual consumers or small employers to create their account with the Health Insurance Marketplace or SHOP Marketplace if needed, but consumers, or a legally authorized representative, must create their own Marketplace username and password. Consumers shouldn’t share this information with third parties, including health insurance agents.