The Affordable Care Act was passed in order to allow families the means to be able to have heath care coverage at reasonable rates. As of January 1, 2014, most US citizens will be required to have health insurance. In order to prepare for the upcoming changes, you need to become informed about your available options and choose the plan that is best for your family. In order to assist with the cost of insurance premiums, there are tax incentives and subsidies available for families who earn between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
Since October 1, 2013, people have been able to compare plans and sign up for their insurance plans through the California Health Insurance Exchange, as well as the federal government’s site. However, using the California Health Insurance Exchange gives you the ability to quickly compare plans from multiple carriers, including some of the state’s leading insurance companies, like Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, and Health Net. In addition, there are 19 different rating regions in California, and the specific types of health plans offered vary by region.
It should be pointed out, if you do not have insurance coverage as required by the Affordable Care Act by January 1, 2014, you could face paying penalties. Even though open enrollment is currently scheduled to end on March 31, 2014, there is a possibility you might have to pay a penalty for not having coverage, starting on January 1, 2014. The amount of penalties is going to be prorated based upon the actual start day of your plan.