Mahaska Health Partnership Still Assisting with Health Insurance Marketplace

Mahaska Health Partnership

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – With the last chance to enroll for 2014 coverage being March 31, Mahaska Health Partnership wants to remind the public they have staff available to answer questions and assist in registering for insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

According to MHP Director of Patient Accounts Joyce Vonk getting health insurance before March 31, 2014 is necessary to avoid fines. “Tax penalties for 2014 will be 1% of your annual income, or $95 per adult, whichever is higher. This rate will increase in 2016 to 2.5% of your income, or $695 per adult. The fee for each child is half that of an adult. Fees will be reflected on federal income tax forms, so it is best to get health insurance now, rather than have to pay a fine later on.”

MHP currently has multiple individuals trained as Certified Application Counselors. These counselors specialize in helping individuals apply for and choose the health insurance plan that is best for them, free of charge.

The Affordable Care Act was created to help provide health coverage to all Americans. The act works to eliminate high monthly premiums charged by insurance companies based on health status or gender. It also provides coverage of dependents up to age 26 and eliminates discrimination based on pre-existing conditions.

Other benefits include clinical services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services and wellness services. “Preventative care is also included in the Affordable Care Act minimum coverage requirements. These improvements were made to help improve the quality of life for everyone,” Vonk said.

Vonk explained that Hawk-I (Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa) will remain active, but Iowa Care will no longer exist. “It is important to assess your current healthcare situation to make sure your coverage sufficiently meets the government standards.

“The new healthcare rules can be very confusing,” Vonk assured. “Our certified staff has received in-depth training about the new health insurance laws so we can help others. As the healthcare resource for the community, we want to provide as much assistance to the public as possible. Our Certified Application Counselors are happy to sit down with anyone who would like to discuss their options and help get them the coverage they need.”

MHP Certified Application Counselors are available to answer questions and help people search for plans that best fit their needs. Meeting with a counselor will take approximately one hour, but each situation is different. To schedule an appointment, please call 641.672.3362 or email insurancehelp@mahaskahealth.org.

Posted by on Mar 3 2014. Filed under Local Businesses, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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