It seems like just yesterday the Supreme Court handed down its controversial decision to uphold much of President Obama’s monumental healthcare reform bill, the Affordable Care Act. But with just a little over a month until the health insurance marketplaces open for enrollment on October 1st, it is now more important than ever to understand how healthcare reform affects you.
The Affordable Care Act is extremely complicated, and most consumers still have questions on how healthcare reform will affect them. To help answer these questions, the National Organization for Rare Disorders has launched its State-by-State Insurance Information Page to help consumers navigate through their state’s insurance purchasing options.
Consumers can find information on their state’s Department of Insurance, and the resources your state offers to help you purchase health insurance. Many states also have consumer assistance programs. The sole purpose of these programs is to answer your questions about health insurance and paying for your care. If you have a question about your insurance coverage, or are thinking about switching insurance plans, call your state’s Department of Insurance or Consumer Assistance Program.
The Affordable Care Act also requires almost all individuals to have health insurance. If you already have insurance, whether through your employer, Medicare, Medicaid, your own individually-sponsored plan, or any other kind of existing health insurance coverage, you do not need to worry about your state’s health insurance marketplace, and can keep the coverage you have now.
But if you do not have coverage, or are thinking about switching away from the coverage you have now, visit our State-by-State Insurance Information Page to learn about your state’s health insurance marketplace. You can find your state marketplace’s contact information, website, and administrative structure.
Finally, check back to our page regularly if you do not find the information you are looking for. State governments and the Federal Government are releasing new information for consumers every day, and NORD’s State-by-State Insurance Information page will include this information as soon as it is available.
