A message from Rep. Kirkpatrick

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), became law, making preventive care more accessible and affordable for many Americans. The new health care law is not perfect, and I am committed to working across the aisle in efforts to improve it. Some provisions of the law have already taken effect, and other provisions will be implemented in the future. This law is already protecting the hard-working families of District One by banning some of the worst insurance company abuses, making prescriptions more affordable for seniors and helping small businesses offer health care by providing new tax credits.

The administration has announced that it will delay until 2015 the ACA’s requirement that employers verify to the IRS that they are providing coverage for workers or pay a penalty. I was glad to see that the administration is responding to the concerns of small-business owners. I’ve heard many of these concerns from folks in our district as well. As constituents continue to become more familiar with the health-care marketplaces, I encourage you to use my office as a resource to learn how implementation may affect your family or business.

I hope the information below helps you find the answers you need, but please reach out if we can provide further assistance. -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
 

Affordable Care Act Specialist 

If you have any questions, please contact my office's ACA specialist, Judy Sulltrop, at 928-213-9977 or at Judy.Sulltrop@mail.house.gov.

24/7 help line: 1-800 318-2596
Small business help line: 1-800-7067893.
 

Helpful Links About the New Health Care Law 

COVERAGE

• Ends Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Children: Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
• Keeps Young Adults Covered: If you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parent's health plan.
• Ends Arbitrary Withdrawals of Insurance Coverage: Insurers can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake. 
• Guarantees Your Right to Appeal: You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment.

COSTS

• Ends Lifetime Limits on Coverage: Lifetime limits on most benefits are banned for all new health insurance plans. 
• Reviews Premium Increases: Insurance companies must now publicly justify any unreasonable rate hikes.
• Helps You Get the Most from Your Premium Dollars: Your premium dollars must be spent primarily on health care--not administrative costs. 

CARE

• Covers Preventive Care at No Cost to You: You may be eligible for recommended preventive health services. No copayment. 
• Protects Your Choice of Doctors: Choose the primary care doctor you want from your plan's network. 
• Removes Insurance Company Barriers to Emergency Services: You can seek emergency care at a hospital outside of your health plan's network. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Why should I have health coverage?
• What if someone doesn't have health coverage in 2014?
• What are the different types of health insurance? 
• How do I choose Marketplace insurance? 
• What's the difference between Marketplace health plans and other private plans? 
• How can I get ready to enroll in the Marketplace? 
• How do I get help enrolling in the Marketplace?
• Will I qualify for lower out-of-pocket costs?
• Will I qualify for lower costs on monthly premiums? 
• What if I'm self-employed?
• Can I keep my own doctor?
• What if I have a pre-existing health condition? 
• What do American Indians and Alaska Natives need to know about the Marketplace?
• What if I need coverage that starts before January 2014?
• What key dates do I need to know?

For Additional Questions Click Here

Tax Questions

• How will this affect my taxes?
• Tax tips if you purchased coverage through the marketplace in 2014
• What if I had other health insurance? (Employer-provided plan, Medicare, TRICARE, etc.)
• I didn't have health insurance in 2014

Timeline of Key Dates

June  2013 - An updated, revised www.healthcare.gov launches. A Toll-free Call Center launches to answer questions on the Marketplaces.

October 2013 - The health plans to be offered in Arizona's Marketplaces are unveiled.

October 1, 2013 - Enrollment begins for individuals in the Health Insurance Marketplaces and for small businesses in the SHOPs.

January 1, 2014 - Coverage begins for individuals in the Health Insurance Marketplaces and for small businesses in the SHOPs.

• To make coverage affordable in the Marketplaces, premium tax credits become available for those with incomes between 100%-400% of the poverty level (between $23,500 to $94,200 for a family of four in 2013).
• For those states that choose, Medicaid is expanded to cover all those with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, with the federal government paying 100% of the cost for first three years, phasing down to 90% of the cost by 2020 and beyond.
• A prohibition on all discrimination by insurance companies against Americans due to pre-existing conditions begins.
• A prohibition against all discrimination by insurance companies against women begins.
• The elimination of all annual limits on insurance coverage begins.
• The small business health insurance tax credit increases from covering 35% of a business’s premium costs to 50% of a business’s premium costs.

March 30, 2014 - The enrollment period ends for calendar year 2014 for individuals enrolling in Individual Health Marketplaces and for small businesses enrolling in SHOPs.

January 1, 2015 - New provisions go into effect beginning to tie physician payments to the value of the care they provide, not simply the volume.

 

Other Useful Websites 

General ACA info: The key website for the Affordable Care Act is www.healthcare.gov. On the website, you can find a great deal of information on such topics as the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, how the provisions of the Affordable Care Act impact different demographic groups, and the basics about health insurance.  A series of fact sheets on various topics can also be found at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/. 

Marketplace info: At www.healthcare.gov/marketplace, you can find useful information about the upcoming Marketplaces and the benefits they will provide.

Businesses: Not sure how the health care law will impact your business? Get answers to your questions with the new health care tool designed for businesses at business.usa.gov/healthcare

Small businesses: Here is a helpful link for SHOP, the Small Business Health Options Program: https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/shop/#state=arizona

You can click here to download a PDF with additional Government websites. 

 

Constituent fact sheets (English & Spanish)

• What You Need to Know About the New Marketplaces (English)
• What You Need to Know About the New Marketplaces (Spanish)
• For Small Businesses: What You Need to Know About ACA (English)
• For Small Businesses: What You Need to Know About ACA (Spanish)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Small Businesses (English)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Small Businesses (Spanish)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Women (English)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Women (Spanish) 
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Seniors & Improves Medicare (English)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Seniors & Improves Medicare (Spanish)
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Young Adults & Children (English) 
• How the Health Care Law Benefits Young Adults & Children (Spanish)