Health law sign-ups hit snag on big weekend

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says some people trying to sign up for health insurance ahead of a looming deadline are getting snagged by technical difficulties.

Administration spokeswoman Katie Hill says some haven't been able to get their income information electronically verified.

That's crucial because the amount of financial assistance to help pay premiums is based on people's income.

The IRS handles income verification for the HealthCare.gov website.

FULL story at link.



In this photo made Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, JPS Health Network patient navigator Delaila Hernandez, center, helps Fred Cardenas with documents during a Affordable Care Act enrollment event at the Fort Worth Public Library in Fort Worth, Texas. Enrollment drives are being held across the country to help people beat the deadline to sign up for health insurance through the federal marketplace. But in Texas and more than two dozen other states where millions of people fall into a so-called coverage gap, the outreach effort has involved more than just signups. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150214/us-health-overhaul-44bf23e7aa.html

[Peacetrain]

1. Why people always wait until the last few hours

just drives me up the proverbial wall.. Of course they will bitch incessantly because it did not got smoothly and the sites get jammed with people.

sigh

[Chemisse]

2. My son waited 'til the very last minute!

He couldn't get it to work on line, so he was at our house getting envelope and stamps, and was planning to mail it out EVEN THOUGH it would be postmarked the day AFTER the deadline!!

Luckily it was extended, but I didn't tell him that - or he would've been doing all this next weekend instead.

And yes, this drives me berserk!

[pnwmom]

3. I'm asking for the young woman living with us. Does anyone know if Medicaid requires people

to re-sign up every year? She thinks not, but I wanted to double-check. Her income is well under the limit.

[PoliticAverse]

6. Short answer - she probably has to renew or at least re-validate her income.

In New York State for example you have to specifically do so. She should check her status online.
What state is she in?

[pnwmom]

8. We're in Washington.

[PoliticAverse]

9. How to Renew Coverage...

From: http://www.hca.wa.gov/medicaid/Pages/index.aspx

How to renew coverage
There is a new way to renew Apple Health/Medicaid for children and adults, except if your health coverage is based on a disability or being 65 or older.

You may renew online using the Healthplanfinder website. To do this yourself, go here and select the green "Renew My Coverage" button.
Help is available. You may call Healthplanfinder to renew coverage over the phone [phone]) or locate an In-Person Assister or outreach specialist located in your community here.

*Note: You will need your household’s estimated income.

Online renewal: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/HBEWeb/Annon_DisplayIndRenewalLandingPage

[pnwmom]

10. THANK YOU!!!!!!

She's also been dealing with paperwork for applying to college, and for financial aid, so your link will at least simplify one thing today.

[AndreaCG]

4. I just signed up in person.

The organization that helped me was close to home and very efficient. Took less than 20 minutes. I'm not earning anything at present so will get Medicaid while I apply for disability.

[underpants]

5. See link here for local help

https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/#address=23229&start=0&num=10&filter=off&lang_filter=0&shop_filter=0&chip_filter=0&navc_filter=1&aba_filter=0

[jwirr]

7. Then do what they did the last time extend the deadline for those who have been trying.

[progree]

11. Odd - last year AFAIK it was honor system on one's income (ultimately settled when file taxes)

Last edited Sun Feb 15, 2015, 01:04 AM - Edit history (2)

After all, literally absolutely nobody can predict their future income, so it is an estimate. Then, later on (it happened to me last December), I got a request to give proof of my income. I gave them the last tax return I have (2013 taxes) plus a letter on what I expected 2014 to be. Haven't heard from since. (I'm on MNSURE, the Minnesota state exchange).

On top of that, when one files their 2014 tax return, it will all settle out -- people whose income turns out to be higher than what they estimated a year or so before will have to give back part/all of their subsidy depending on where they end up (up to a certain maximum). And likewise, people whose income turns out to be lower than they estimated will get the additional subsidy money they are due.

Likewise for people in late 2014 / early 2015 estimating their 2015 income for their 2015 subsidies -- it will all settle out when they file 2015 taxes.

So I don't understand how this can hold up signing up ...

[font color = red]ON Edit - thanks somebody for my 1st Valentine! I thought I was going to end up as a "2015 Valentine Virgin"[/font]

[progree]

12. GLITCH FIXED!

Snag affecting health law sign-ups gets a fix, AP, 3 hours ago (meaning 930p ET 2/14/15)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A technical problem that had been interfering with sign-ups for President Barack Obama's health care law has been fixed, officials say. Any consumer whose enrollment was hampered by the glitch will be provided with a special enrollment period.

The problem popped up the day before a Sunday deadline to sign up for subsidized private health insurance. It had been intermittent, meaning some people were able to complete their applications and submit them, Health and Human Service Department spokeswoman Katie Hill said.

By Saturday night, the problem had been resolved, Hill said in a statement. Consumers affected by the problem should log in to their Marketplace account and click on their 2015 application to finish it and complete their enrollment for health coverage, she said.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/health-law-sign-ups-hit-snag-big-weekend-204558679--finance.html