Are Federal Call Centers Up To The Task Of Enrolling Millions In Health Plans?
Despite the president's urging that frustrated consumers use call centers, advocates say they're not "a realistic alternative" for comparing and selecting coverage.
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Despite the president's urging that frustrated consumers use call centers, advocates say they're not "a realistic alternative" for comparing and selecting coverage.
The health law gives consumers until March 31 to sign up for health insurance, but it may be weeks before coverage begins. So the administration says it will not penalize anyone who signs up by that date.
Websites like eHealthInsurance.com that were planning to start selling new, subsidized Obamacare policies on Oct. 1 still can't offer them to customers.
Using health law subsidies, many will be able to afford health coverage for the first time. But the insurance they'll be buying comes with caveats.
Consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers questions about the insurance landscape under the new health law.
"Nobody is madder than me" about the problems consumers have had with the federal insurance marketplace, Obama said in a Rose Garden speech, "which means it's going to get fixed."
Insurers say the old policies fail to meet the law's requirements, but some consumers complain about being forced to buy more expensive policies.
In Washington state, nearly 25,000 residents have signed up for coverage in the exchange's first two weeks, whereas in Oregon, no one has been able to enroll through its website, although low-income residents have been able to sign up for Medicaid without the site.
The simple answer is that under the health law's individual mandate, American must have insurance by March 31. But unfortunately it's not that straightforward.
A reader asks: Can COBRA health insurance coverage be extended beyond 36 months?
It may not be as fun as planning that backpacking trip around Europe, but buying health insurance will soon be its own rite of passage. Here's what you need to know.
This little-known provision of the health law has been --at times -- in the Senate negotiations on the budget.
Costs, coverage details of different Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans can vary significantly, so beneficiaries should weigh their options and consider switching plans for a better deal.
The nonprofit "consumer oriented and operated plans," or co-ops, are run by their members and were created under the federal health law to enhance competition on the exchanges.
Consumers of different ages, health and income levels make different calculations about the costs and benefits of buying health coverage.
Although tribal members are entitled to free health care, most Indian health facilities do not offer a full array of services.
How states resolve questions over whether to mandate coverage of specialized treatments, such as gastric bypass surgery, can have a big impact on premiums.
The new health insurance exchanges are now in their second week, and almost across the board, it has been a rocky start. But just how rocky depends on what state you live in and how many navigators have been hired to help people sign up.
Once consumers are primed to enroll, the hand-off to counselors has been rocky. Many counselors are still attending training or are awaiting background checks and state-issued licenses; some just need a computer log-in.
A contract worker looks for more consistent coverage.
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