Health Insurance in Georgia — Where to Enroll for 2014?

A huge public awareness campaign will soon be launched in Georgia and all over the nation. Each state has received substantial funds so they can get the word out. The message is geared towards people who will benefit from enrolling in the exchange (aka: marketplace). There is still a lot of confusion surrounding the new health insurance marketplace.  Most people still don’t know how they will be impacted. Hopefully, the public awareness campaign will help bring some clarity.

If you have health insurance offered through your employer, then this doesn’t apply to you.  Even if you and your dependents would save more money by enrolling in an exchange plan, by receiving subsidies, you still can’t enroll if coverage is offered through your employer (there are exceptions to this rule).

Georgia received $2.8 million in grants to hire “navigators”.  Navigators will help people navigate the complex world of health insurance: copays, coinsurance, subsidies, provider networks, etc. They are not allowed to recommend a particular plan, but they will help people understand their options. They are hoping to hire around 100 navigators (who will need to be trained prior to October 1).  It is estimated that 900,000 people in Georgia will be eligible for exchange plans, based on their household income. So, it looks like there will be an extreme shortage of Navigators available to help folks.  To see if you are eligible for a subsidy (tax credits), check out the subsidy calculator at www.kff.org. Click on Healthcare Reform. As noted in previous posts, there is a lot of good information there.

People will be directed to www.healthcare.gov if they don’t call a Navigator.  There will be a call center available to help people understand their options, eligibility for subsidies and process enrollments. However, it is hard to say if the advice will be adequate. Remember, we are dealing with government employees who have been newly trained and have no background in health insurance.

So, I’m telling everyone:  FIND AN EXPERIENCED, KNOWLEDGEABLE HEALTH INSURANCE AGENT.  I’m sorry for shouting this, but I need to let folks know that agents will be able to do everything that Navigators and government workers will do, but we have the knowledge and experience to really help people make informed decisions.  It will be especially helpful to find a local agent who is familiar with provider networks in Georgia. 

If you know someone who doesn’t currently have health insurance or maybe their household income is less than four times the Federal Poverty Level (approx. $94,000 modified adjusted gross income) for a family of four, then they probably need help in determining whether they should should enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) during Open Enrollment starting October 1.  Even if someone is eligible for a subsidy, it doesn’t mean they will benefit from enrolling in a QHP via the exchange.  This is just one area where a Navigator will lack knowledge and experience to help people understand their options.

As noted in other posts, there are strategies for people who won’t be eligible to enroll in the exchange.  In fact, there are private exchanges springing up and there are some important things for people (including employers) to consider before the end of 2013.

A knowledgeable agent will provide resources and answer questions that could save people a lot of time and money!

Greg Sanders     Peachtree Insurance Advisors     678-236-1600