The Marketplace Basics in NC

The NC Health Care exchange will open on October 1, 2013. This is part of the Affordable Health Care Act or Obamacare as it is also known. For individuals who do not currently have health insurance/ health plans this may make it affordable for you to finally buy health insurance.

Some big changes in the new policy. Preexisting conditions will no longer exempt you or cause huge premium increases. This is called premium equity. Insurers can’t charge huge increases to people with pre-existing conditions. This change affects 20 million children under the age of 19 also! The law also limits insurers’ ability to impose age-related premium increases or gender increases for private coverage.

Many individuals and families will qualify for federal subsidies. The subsidies are available to those with incomes of up to four times the federal poverty level – which this year is $45,960 for an individual or $94,200 for a family of four. The lower your income, the bigger the subsidy.

There is a great basic website for all the information on the new exchanges at : Healthcare.gov website. https://www.healthcare.gov/families.

Using an insurance agent like myself is free. We can help you go to the exchange for enrollment. We can answer many questions. Ensure you are truly picking the best plan for you and your family. The exchanges open October 1,2013. Coverage will start January 1, 2014.

Sherie Samstag Bryan

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific insurance or legal advice or recommendations for any individual.