Federal website explains health exchange choices
A new website, www.healthcare.gov, launched by the federal government this week explains the choices uninsured or underinsured people will have starting Oct. 1, when the new health exchanges go into effect.
The website will allow apples-to-apples comparisons, Ray Hurd, regional administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the Portland Press Herald. "People will be able to purchase health insurance at rates that are affordable to them," he said.
The health care exchanges, a key provision in President Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, are for individuals and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Under the new health care law, people must have health insurance or pay a penalty.
The enrollment starting in October is for coverage beginning in January 2014.
The website currently does not have specific insurance rates, but by Oct. 1 at the latest, that information will be available, Hurd told the Press Herald. But the site does explain how the upcoming exchanges will work, and allows those interested to sign up for updates.
In Maine, two insurers will offer plans: the newly formed coop Maine Community Health Options and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A Harvard Pilgrim spokeswoman told the newspaper in an email that the insurer intends to offer plans on the exchange as well.
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