HealthCare.gov

People who don't have employer-provided insurance coverage have options, ranging from individual insurance policies to government-funded programs. But information about these plans and programs is often fragmented and confusing. Now, the Department of Health and Human Services has launched a website, HealthCare.gov, that's designed to help consumers identify sources of public and private coverage. If you're looking for an individual insurance policy, you'll be asked to provide your age, your state of residence, and whether you have a medical condition. Once you've done that, you'll get a list of plans available in your area. You'll get a summary of each plan's benefits, and you'll be able to find out whether your doctor is in the plan's network. What you won't get are prices: The site won't provide premium estimates until October. In the meantime, you'll have to contact the providers directly. Even with those limitations, the site provides useful information for consumers. Starting in 2014, insurers will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people with medical problems. In the interim, the government has set aside $5 billion to set up high-risk pools for people who have been locked out of the insurance market. If you fall into this category, HealthCare.gov is the gateway to information about these plans, which will be administered by the states. To qualify for the high-risk pools, you must have been uninsured for at least six months. You must also prove that you've been turned down for insurance because of a pre-existing condition. To do that, you'll need a denial letter from a private insurance company. You may also be eligible if you were offered coverage but denied certain benefits because of a medical condition. If you live in one of the six states that require insurers to offer insurance to everyone, you'll need to show that the plan provided was unaffordable.
Source: USA Today
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