White House Says ACA Enrollment Has Hit Their Revised Lower Goal of Six Million

White House Says Health Care Rolls Top Goal: 6 Million

By DAVID S. JOACHIM MARCH 27, 2014

WASHINGTON — The White House said on Thursday that more than six

million people had signed up for medical insurance plans under President

Obama’s health care law, exceeding the administration’s revised goal for

enrollment by the Monday deadline.

Demand for new policies has surged in recent days as the open

enrollment period draws to a close, the White House said, with 1.5 million

visits to HealthCare.gov and 430,000 calls to the program’s call centers on

Wednesday alone. The enrollment figure is up from five million a week

ago.

Mr. Obama, who was traveling in Italy, held a conference call to thank

volunteers who are helping to enroll uninsured Americans, officials said.

“The president encouraged the navigators and volunteers to redouble

their efforts over the next four days and leave no stone unturned in trying

to bring affordable health coverage to as many Americans as possible,”

White House officials said in describing the call.

Enrollment began in October. The administration recently scaled back

its original estimate of signing up seven million people.

Republican lawmakers have played down the enrollment numbers and

continued to press for an overhaul or a repeal of the law. Even some

Democratic senators in competitive re-election races have prescribed changes to the law.

Some conservative commentators took to Twitter on Thursday to ask

how many of the six million enrollees had paid their insurance premiums.

The White House has not been willing to say.

© 2014 The New York Times Company

Report from the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange

Report from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange about Maryland Health Connection, the state-based health insurance marketplace 

BALTIMORE (March 21, 2014) -- As we enter the final days of open enrollment, we have seen a spike in interest and activity on Maryland Health Connection.

Counting both individuals who have gained Medicaid coverage and those who have selected a private health plan through Maryland Health Connection, 248,230 Marylanders have enrolled in coverage since January 1. This includes 203,394 Marylanders in Medicaid and 44,836 through private health plans. This puts Maryland more than 95 percent of the way towards our goal of 260,000 gaining coverage during the first open enrollment period.

We continue to do everything we can to get as many Marylanders as possible enrolled by March 31. Marylanders who have not yet enrolled are encouraged to visit www.marylandhealthconnection.gov to complete an application and enroll in coverage.

------If you are not eligible for a subsidy through the exchanges and need coverage directly and quickly you can click this link for a medical and/or dental plan through Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.  

Thanks, Ben

Maryland Ends Contract with health exchange provider

Kelly Kennedy, USAToday

WASHINGTON — Maryland officials voted to end their contract with their health exchange provider and replace it with the company that fixed the federal health exchange.

"This transition will support the exchange's goal of enrolling as many Marylanders as possible in quality, affordable health coverage by the close of open enrollment on March 31," reads a statement from the board of the Maryland Health Exchange, which met Sunday night. "The exchange is preserving all rights to seek damages against Noridian and its subcontractors for problems with the IT system."

Noridian will be replaced by Optum/QSSI, the same company the federal government brought in to fix HealthCare.gov after its bug-filled rollout Oct. 1.

Open enrollment ends March 31, leaving the state little time, especially if the site is so problematic that it needs to be rebuilt from scratch. The site crashed on its opening day and has faced problems ever since, including frozen pages and lost applications. According to an enrollment report released this month, 33,000 people have enrolled in private health plans. The enrollment goal is 70,000.

Isabel FitzGerald, secretary of the Department of Information Technology, recommended the change of providers.

Some of the state health exchanges, such as California's and Kentucky's, have done well. California has already met its enrollment goals for the year.

Others, such as in Oregon and Hawaii, have had to turn to paper enrollment processes because their websites have been so problematic. Both states' exchange directors resigned in December. Hawaii's site opened two weeks later than planned and had only 257 people enrolled in the first month. Oregon's enrollments had to be processed by hand. Oregon launched a beta site this month that allows navigators to enroll people through a computer system. This month, Hawaii ranked last in the nation for enrollments.

--------Since the eschanges are a mess and you are trying to find a medical plan and having issues please try this link to Carefirst Individual Medical Plans ------BBS

Follow us on Twitter: brooksbenefit @brooksbenefit

WEREN'T ABLE TO GET COVERAGE THROUGH THE EXCHANGE? O'MALLY INTRODUCES THE BRIDGE PLAN

Maryland Health Insurance Plan Bridge Program

On January 30, 2014 Governor Martin O’Malley signed Senate Bill 134 - Maryland Health Insurance Plan – Access for Bridge Eligible Individuals. The bill allows “Bridge Eligible Individuals” as defined in § 31-101 of the Maryland Insurance Article to obtain temporary health insurance through the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) with retroactive coverage.

MHIP Bridge Program Policies and Procedures

• Individuals eligible for health insurance through Medicaid, Medicare or an employer sponsored plan are not eligible for the MHIP Bridge Program.
• Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2014 (a postal date mark constitutes the submission date).
• MHIP Bridge coverage will be terminated on the effective date of a Bridge Eligible Individual’s enrollment in a qualified health plan (member must provide notice in writing to CareFirst for voluntary termination to occur).
• A MHIP member whose coverage was terminated December 31, 2013 or thereafter and are eligible for the Bridge Program will be reinstated in their last MHIP plan option with no deductible reset.
• Bridge Program applicants must submit the following documents for enrollment consideration:

1. Proof of Maryland residency
2. MHIP Standard enrollment application form
3. Tax return document and/or other proof of income if applying for enrollment in one of the MHIP+ plan options
4. MHIP Bridge Program Application Addendum (Addendum must contain applicant’s signature, a written description of when and how the applicant attempted to enroll through the Maryland Health Connection (MHC) and coverage effective date choice to be considered complete)

Enrollment Coverage Choice Will Be as Follows:

Date Application Received       Effective Date of Coverage Options
Jan. 1 – Feb. 15, 2014                  January 1, 2014 or February 1, 2014
Feb. 16 – Mar. 15, 2014               February 1, 2014 or March 1, 2014
Mar. 16 – Mar. 31, 2014               March 1, 2014

• All MHIP Bridge Program enrollees’ coverage will be terminated on March 31, 2014, unless that date is extended by the MHIP Board of Directors.
• Bridge Program application forms can be downloaded from Marylandhealthinsuranceplan.net
• A paper copy will be mailed to the individual upon request by calling 1-888-444-9016.
• Enrollment applications must be mailed to CareFirst at Maryland Health Insurance Plan, Enrollment and Billing, 10455 Mill Run Circle, RR-380, Owings Mills, MD 21117-9685.
• CareFirst will process applications within 3 business days of receipt of a complete application.
• If the application is incomplete, CareFirst will notify MHIP staff daily and MHIP staff will reach out to the applicant to obtain the missing information in a timely fashion to facilitate a prompt enrollment.
• CareFirst will mail an approval letter and a payment slip to the individual.
• Upon receipt of payment from the individual, CareFirst will effectuate coverage and mail an ID card. Coverage is not effective until full payment is received.
• Members and providers can confirm coverage with CareFirst prior to an ID card being received by calling 1-888-444-9016.
• Certificates of Coverage will be mailed to new enrollees with terms of plan and coverage dates.
• MHIP and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) will work together to assist Bridge Program enrollees in getting coverage through the MHC. An existing MOU and data sharing agreement between MHIP and MHBE will facilitate this process. Bridge Program eligible individuals will be placed on a priority list and given assistance with transitioning, as soon as possible, into a qualified health plan through MHC. MHBE will manage the priority list.
• MHBE will use social media, direct contact and other communication outlets to inform individuals of the MHIP Bridge Program as an option of choice should other options not be available for the individual.

*From MHE-2/2014

NOTIFICATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF HEALTH EXCHANGE-URGENT

Essentially all employers must notify all of their employees, regardless of those on a medical plan or not, of the existence of the Health Exchanges.  The Model Notice of Health Exchange is the Notification issued by the Department of Labor (or one that contains essentially the same information) that MUST be sent to ALL employees by 10-1-2013. There are three pages to the notification.  Page 2 needs to be completed by you prior to sending to your employees. The third page is optional.  All newly hired employees must be given the notification within 14 days of Hire.

Below please find the distribution and delivery requirements. 

Distribution Requirements

Employers

Any employer who is subject to the Fair Labor Standards ACT of 1938 is required to distribute the Exchange Notice to its employees. Employers who do not currently offer health care coverage to their employees and/or are not subject to the Employer Mandate under the ACA are not exempt from this notification requirement.

Employees

ALL employees must be provided with an Exchange Notice, including employees who are not eligible to enroll in employer-sponsored benefits. A few exceptions do apply. A notice does not need to be issued to:

• Spouses and dependent children covered under an employer’s plan,
• COBRA participants, and
• Retirees (even if they are enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan).

Delivery

When it comes to getting the Exchange Notice into the hands of employees, the updated guidance provides employers with two options: 1) First Class Mail and 2) Electronic Distribution. You may choose one option for all employees or a combination of both (depending on your employee population). Please note that electronic distribution is only permissible if the following DOL regulations are satisfied:

• Access to the electronic delivery system is an integral part of the employees’ work duties.
• A statement regarding the importance of the Exchange Notice is provided.
• A free paper copy is made available upon request.

     

AETNA/COVENTRY PULLING OUT OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARYLAND EXCHANGES

Earlier this week Aetna, who recently purchased Coventry Health Plans, told the Maryland Health Administration Commissioner, Therese Goldsmith that both Aetna and Coventry will be pulled out of the mix for plans offered on the individual exchange.  Aetna requested rates for one of their plans that was 29% higher than what the exchange would allow and decided that to lower their premiums by that amount would be unprofitable. Aetna and Coventry, however, have shown no signs that they are pulling out of the Small Group Exchange Plans.  

Maryland Delaying The Launch of the Small Business Exchange

The state’s health department changed the start date for businesses to enroll in the small business exchange from October, 2013 to January 2014. The state’s decision comes after the federal government said it would give states until January 2015 to get up and running a key piece of the small business exchange that gives employees more insurance options.

The health insurance marketplaces for both small businesses and individuals were supposed to begin enrollment this October for coverage that would take effect in January. The individual exchange is still expected to stick to that timeline. The exchanges are part of the federal Affordable Care Act.

Excerpt from the Baltimore Business Journal, April 3, 2013

YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE EXCHANGES, MARCH 2013

According to the Affordable Care Act (Health Reform), by March 2013 all employers must notify their employees of the existence of the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange.  In addition they will need to provide:

1. Written notice informing employees about the state’s Exchange, including a description of how the employee may contact the Exchange for assistance.
2. Notification to employees if the plan offered by the employer is inadequate, meaning it does not meet the actuarial value of 60 percent. The employer must let employees know that they may be eligible for a premium tax credit and a cost-sharing reduction if they purchase a health plan through the Exchange.
3. Employers must notify employees that if they purchase a health plan through the Exchange, the employee may lose the employer’s contribution to health benefits offered by the employer.

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange will begin enrollments into their plans October 2013 for a January 1, 2014 effective date.  Brooks Benefit Services will be forwarding verbiage for this notification to all of our clients.  In addition we will be able to assist any employees with determining whether the exchange plans may or may not be a good fit for them.  It is important to remember that the exchanges are available to all employees whether they are full-time or part-time.  

The Maryland Health Exchange is going to be made up of several plans: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and a Catastrophic plan for younger people.  These plans will be underwritten by current carriers and will basically compete with themselves.  Since the coverage through the exchange is guaranteed issue, many believe most of our sickest and oldest individuals will jump or be pushed into these plans.  Since the cost of these plans is directly relative to the individuals income, it could make more sense to go with an exchange plan than one through an employer and visa-versa.  Depending upon the size of the employer (50+ Full-Time Employees), if the employee goes to the exchange,  your plan is deemed to either be "un-affordable" or isn't "minimal essential coverage", you will be fined.....heavily.

If any of this is new to you or needs further conversation, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 410-239-5009.