Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

ACA Update

Lauren Chesson, Former MSW Intern · January 10, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Now that the holidays are over and we have returned to our daily routines, it is a good time to review what has transpired since I last posted.

On January 1, the individual requirement to have health insurance went into effect. As I have written before, this means that individuals who are currently uninsured or who have insurance policies that are not considered compliant with the Affordable Care Act’s provisions must purchase a qualified insurance plan if they do not qualify for some form of government-funded insurance. Otherwise, they will be assessed a penalty fee. Completing an application on healthcare.gov will tell you what plans are available to you, whether you or your family may be eligible for Medicaid/CHIP, and whether or not you are eligible for a premium tax credit. Some individuals and families may be eligible for an exemption. You can see the eligibility rules for exemptions here.

As a reminder, the Affordable Care Act implements many consumer protections and more comprehensive coverage benefits than have ever been available before—no denied coverage for a pre-existing health condition, no lifetime or annual limits on coverage, expansion of essential health benefits, preventive services at no cost, review of provider premium increases, requirements for how insurance companies spend premium dollars, and much more.

According to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the most recent data for enrollment tells us that through the month of December at least 2.1 million people enrolled in a private health insurance plan through the federal or state marketplaces and 3.9 million people learned of their eligibility for Medicaid/CHIP coverage.

Individuals have until the end of the open enrollment period on March 31, 2014 to enroll in an insurance plan. In order to have coverage start at the 1st of the following month, you need to enroll by the 15th of the prior month. So, to have coverage by February 1, an individual would need to enroll by January 15.

Guidance has also been released which offers an additional option for those who may have received a policy cancellation letter for their individual insurance and have found all alternative coverage to be unaffordable. These individuals can apply for a hardship exemption, which will make them eligible to purchase catastrophic coverage that generally offers much lower premiums but higher deductibles.

The need for reaching out and educating others about this law and for encouraging others to enroll in insurance is just as important now as it was before January arrived. There are still many people out there who will benefit from having comprehensive health insurance coverage made available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Health, Healthcare Reform

Lauren Chesson, Former MSW Intern

About Lauren Chesson, Former MSW Intern

Lauren grew up in Royston, GA. She is a graduate of Davidson College with a BA in Religion. After working as a nanny for 6 years with two of the most adorable little girls on the planet, she began the pursuit of her Masters in Social Work degree from N.C. State. She will graduate in May, and then she plans to attend seminary and work towards ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Mental Health and Race: Barriers, Ideas, & Sacred Work (Part III)
Blessed are those who continue to mourn
Mental Health and Race: Barriers, Ideas, & Sacred Work (Part II)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

ACA Update

Latest Tweets

Just last week, our Governing Board adopted a resolution calling for the removal of Confederate symbols in public squares. As people of faith & conscience, we believe such monuments are a constant reminder of prejudice against black and brown people. >> ncchurches.org/2021/… pic.twitter.com/iGCX…

About a day ago

"Amanda Gorman in her inauguration poem 'The Hill We Climb' begins with the lines: 'When day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?'" Read more of this 2nd Sunday lenten reflection from Elizabeth Brewington >> ncchurches.org/2021/… pic.twitter.com/pgge…

About 2 days ago

"Perhaps it’s the pandemic that offers a fitting analogy to the condition of our politics as Americans try to recover from the trauma of Jan. 6 – when we came dangerously close to the onset of an anti-democratic Trump-ocracy." Read more from Steve Ford >> ncchurches.org/2021/…

About 2 days ago

FACT: Countries where maternal mortality rates have significantly dropped (~ -50%) in the past few decades (e.g., France, Germany, Sweden), have generous paid leave laws. #BlackHistoryMonth #Paidleave #BlackHealth pic.twitter.com/PgWW…

About 3 days ago

Call your Member of Congress and tell them paid leave is crucial to public health and economic recovery. Text paidleave (one word) to 844-955-2880 or visit bit.ly/39PWQde to begin. #AmericanRescuePlan #PaidLeave #BlackHealth

About 3 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Dr. Satcher questioned the structures that have upheld health disparities in our communities. By laying the foundation for this work, we can continue taking meaningful action towards promoting a society where we can all thrive. #BlackHistoryMonth @HHSGov @Surgeon_General pic.twitter.com/zrw2…

About 2 days ago

Amen! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/cornerpr…

About 2 days ago

RT @MAHECwnc There has never been a better time to quit smoking and vaping. Protect your health by keeping your lungs healthy! #quitlinenc #covid19 #asheville pic.twitter.com/bKlC…

About 2 days ago

Check out this new resource from @DrugPolicyOrg challenging us to dig deeper and work together to uproot the drug war. uprootingthedrugwar.… #harmreduction #mindfultogether

About 3 days ago

Dr. Julian's work was instrumental to the public health community. We carry his passion as we continue reckoning with our past so that we may continue building the beloved community. Learn more about Dr. Julian's legacy at pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ju…. #BlackHistoryMonth @novapbs pic.twitter.com/JJsm…

About 3 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @greenthechurch Be sure to read Green The Church's COO Kim Noble's op ed, "#EnvironmentalJustice in Focus this #BlackHistoryMonth", in the Texas Metro News! @Kimrenay22 #Austin #DFW #Houston #Texas #SanAntonio #EJ ow.ly/mOtw50DGQnN pic.twitter.com/IPOO…

About 2 days ago

RT @ActionAidUSA To build a truly just, equitable & sustainable world, we need to fight for a new #socialcontract. That means: ✔️ Defending democracy ✔️ Fighting for climate justice ✔️ Building equitable food systems ✔️ Supporting women’s leadership. Learn more: bit.ly/2M8xT40 pic.twitter.com/fEWv…

About 2 days ago

RT @interfaithpower IPL is proud to be a signer on this letter. The U.S. must provide bold and socially just leadership to protect our communities from the impacts of climate change, including the threats to our economy- @sbhendershot twitter.com/RealBank…

About 2 days ago

RT @interfaithpower "This is all of our country, this is our mother. It's difficult to not feel obligated to protect this land" - @DebHaalandNM with a powerful reminder of what she believes in. Her passion is exactly what we need right now; the Senate must #ConfirmHaaland! #ConfirmClimate

About 2 days ago

RT @EPA EPA is proud to join our agency partners as we tackle the climate crisis and build a healthier, cleaner, more equitable future for all. Let’s do this! whitehouse.gov/brief…

About 4 days ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine