New Health Insurance Site for Business Owners

On Thursday, the Obama administration launched a "one-stop" web site intended to help business owners explore and understand their health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act.

The new “wizard tool” is for businesses of all sizes. It brings together information from the Health and Human Services Department, the Small Business Administration, and the Treasury Department.

The site, Business.USA.gov/healthcare, allows users to enter their location, size of business, and future insurance plans, and create a menu of information options. It also connects employers to information about tax credits and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act.

Along with individuals and families, businesses with 50 or more employees will be required to either carry health insurance for their employees or face a penalty for failing to do so. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, but the start date for the business requirement has been moved from Jan. 1, 2014, to Jan. 1, 2015. Smaller businesses (those with fewer than 50 employees) may qualify for tax credits if they choose to offer health insurance.

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Health Insurance Waiting Game for Minnesotans

Health Insurance Waiting Game for MinnesotansMore than 1 million Minnesotans are expected to buy health insurance in the state's health Marketplace, MNSure. But they may not know what plans are available and what their premiums might be until enrollment begins on Oct. 1. http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/news/2013/07_2013/minn_rate_infor_held_until_oct_xml/69x75_minn_rate_infor_held_until_oct_xml.jpgWebMD Health News

Aug. 2, 2013 -- More than 1 million Minnesotans are expected to buy health insurance on the state’s health insurance Marketplace, MNSure. But they may not know what plans are available and what their premiums might be until enrollment begins on Oct. 1.

Most of the Affordable Care Act goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014. That's when coverage for a health plan purchased in the fall will take effect. 

Other states have posted the rates insurance carriers will charge for individuals, families, and groups. But Minnesota law prevents the state from disclosing rates and the names of the carriers that will participate in MNSure. The Department of Commerce says nine companies have applied, and they include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, PreferredOne, and UCare.

In late July, state insurance regulators asked the companies to release rates voluntarily on Sept. 6 to give people time to understand their choices.

Insurance companies say the law protects them from unfair competition.

Under the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, each state must have a health insurance Marketplace by Oct. 1. Most Americans will be required to have health insurance starting Jan. 1, 2014. Minnesota is one of 17 states, along with Washington, D.C., that will run its own Marketplace.

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Consumers Can Take First Step To Enrolling In New Insurance Options Today

Consumers Can Take First Step To Enrolling In New Insurance Options TodayConsumers Can Take First Step To Enrolling In New Insurance Options TodayWebMD News from Kaiser Health News

By Phil Galewitz

Consumers in most states can start the process of enrolling in Obamacare today — but they won’t be able to compare health insurance prices or buy coverage in the new federally run insurance online marketplaces until Oct. 1, administration officials said Monday.

People in the 34 states relying on a federal insurance exchange can go to healthcare.gov starting today to open a personal account — the first step to buying coverage that would take effect Jan. 1. (Sixteen states and the District of Columbia are setting up their own online marketplaces, and several have already released pricing information although enrollment does not begin until Oct. 1.)

To set up the personal account, users enter some basic information such as state of residence, age and whether they are eligible for coverage through their employer.

The administration is hoping to draw more interest in the new insurance options by letting people begin the enrollment process now.

“We are on target and ready to flip the switch on Oct. 1,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during a telephone briefing with reporters.

Sebelius said reports from several states that premiums will soar “are not accurate.” She did not name the states but insurance commissioners in Florida and Ohio have said average rates will increase at least 30 percent to 40 percent next year and blamed the federal health law, which requires insurers to sell to everyone and prohibits plans from charging more to those with pre-existing medical conditions.

States were required to submit their insurance rates to HHS for final review by July 31. HHS plans to sign contracts with insurers in the federally fun marketplace by early September.

Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communications organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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