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Affordable Care Act

Low Income? Apply for the Healthy Michigan Program - Michigan Medicaid Expansion (click here)
The Affordable Care Act law makes health care more accessible and affordable for you. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) puts you back in charge of your health care. Under the law, you will be given the flexibility and stability you need to make informed choices about your health care coverage.

Getting Started - Understanding Healthcare Basics...

  • Healthcare Basics- Gives an explanation of several types of health insurance policies and health care plans with many different features that are available to consumers in Michigan.
  • Medical Term Glossary - Provides definitions of commonly used medical terms relating to consumer health plans.
  • How to Spot A Healthcare Scam - The Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for identity theft and insurance scams related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The Affordable Care Act & What It Means To You...

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and informally as ObamaCare was signed into law in March 2010 to give Americans the flexibility and stability they need to make informed choices about their health care coverage. The ACA puts Americans back in charge of their own health care through increased competition, regulation, and incentives. The Affordable Care Act means free annual checkups and preventive care. It helps the consumer since insurance companies can no longer refuse to provide coverage, impose a waiting period, or charge more for pre-existing conditions. Young Adults can remain on a parent's plan until they turn age 26 if the plan covers dependent children. In order to make it easier for people to take advantage of finding health coverage, The Marketplace was created. The Health Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov) was designed as a health exchange that allows Americans to compare health insurance plans based on price and benefits that meet their health care needs. The Health Insurance Marketplace makes the coverage affordable to individuals and families by providing premium tax credits and/or cost sharing based on income qualifications. The Marketplace will also notify you if you qualify for free or low cost coverage through Medicaid.

Affordable Care Act Qualifications:

No one plans to get sick or injured; however, in life sometimes the unexpected happens. What a benefit it is to have help paying the costs when the unexpected does occur. That is the reason why health insurance is so valuable. It provides peace of mind during those times. When someone without health coverage gets urgent-often expensive-medical care but doesn't pay the bill, everyone else ends up paying the price. That's why the Affordable Care Act requires all people to have health insurance by April 1, 2014 or pay a penalty.

Read more about the healthcare penalty:

Ways To Apply For The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Apply Online

Before you begin applying you may preview plans and prices available in your area. Price quotes shown reflect any lower costs you may qualify for based on your income and household size.

Find in-Person Help

You can apply with the help of an assister or navigator who can sit with you and help you fill out an online or paper application. Search by city and state or zip code to see a list of local organizations with contact information, office hours, and types of help offered including non-English language support.

Apply by Phone

Call 1(800) 318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY: 1(855)889-4325). A customer service representative will work with you to complete the application and enrollment process.

How To Cut The Cost of Health Coverage:

When you use the Marketplace, you may be able to get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs or low-cost coverage. You can save money in the Marketplace in three ways. All of them depend on your income and family size.

  1. You may be able to lower costs on your monthly premiums when you enroll in a private health insurance plan.
  2. You may qualify for lower out-of-pocket costs for copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.
  3. You or your child may get free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Helpful Resources to Cut the Cost...

Healthy Michigan Plan - Medicaid Expansion

The State of Michigan passed a law to expand Medicaid. The State of Michigan plans to make health care benefits available through the Healthy Michigan Plan in early spring 2014. The expansion will provide health insurance for those Michigan residents that need it most. Michigan will expand its Medicaid program as of April 2014 to cover households with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. That works out to about $16,000 a year for 1 person or $33,000 for a family of 4 people.

Qualifications:

  • Age 19-64 years of age
  • Income at or below 133% of Federal Poverty Level. That works out to about $16,000 a year for 1 person or $33,000 for a family of 4.
  • Do not qualify for or are not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid programs
  • Not pregnant
  • Residents of State of Michigan

How To Apply For Healthy Michigan Plan:

Online at www.mibridges.michigan.gov
Your local Department of Human Services
Call 1-855-789-5610

Read More Information about the Healthy Michigan Plan:

Helpful Resources & Links...

Important Dates To Remember...

  • October 1, 2013 - Marketplace opens and enrollment begins

  • December 15, 2013 - Application deadline on Marketplace for coverage to begin January 1, 2014
  • January 1, 2014 - Health coverage can start if you have applied for coverage through the Marketplace
  • March 15, 2014 - Application deadline through the Marketplace for coverage to begin April 1, 2014
  • March 31, 2014 - Open Enrollment in the Marketplace ends
  • April 1, 2014 - Expanded Medicaid / Healthy Michigan Plan begins. Medicaid applications are accepted at your local Department of Human Services Office, www.mibridges.michigan.gov, call 1-855-789-5610
  • October 1, 2014 - Marketplace re-opens for coverage effective January 1, 2015

For More Information contact (313) 833-0209