Students who want to avoid expensive healthcare costs may be able to do so by enrolling in the Affordable Care Act.
According to Healthcare.gov, starting January 1, 2014 “most people must have health coverage or pay a fee.” Penalties for adults who don’t have coverage by the deadline will be fined $95 or 1% of total income (whichever is higher). This penalty will also increase for every year that you do not acquire coverage. The term “most people” refers to those who do not qualify for an exemption.
Individuals applying for coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have the ability to apply in four ways: with a paper application, online, by phone, or in person with an assistant.
After mailing a paper application you’ll find out whether you’re eligible for lower costs on private insurance, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Once you’ve been approved you’ll be able to go onto the online site healthcare.gov to compare plan costs, and enroll.
The online application will require that the individual create a profile before hand and will allow the applicant to view coverage plans before being approved.
Applicants interested in coverage options in their area have several tools made available to them on the website. One of these being the Cost Savings Calculator. The calculator asks basic income and household questions in order to evaluate individuals to see if they may qualify for lower cost insurance based on their house size and income.
Students needing coverage can also look into the health care plans available here at SFCC.
“Its the best kept secret; coverage through your school,” Phoebe, a health awareness and first aid teacher, said. “Regardless of what the law says, individuals just need to have coverage or accidents can be very expensive when covered out of pocket.”
Two plans are available to SFCC students through the cashiers in building 17, one being a general student health plan and a student “injury-only” plan. Information regarding these plans can be found through brochures acquired at the cashier desk.
General overage for a student can range from $500 per quarter for one individual, to $2,842 per quarter for a student, their spouse, and their children. The injury-only plan can range in cost from $39 for one student, to $190 for the student, their spouse, and children.
The coverage plans available to students must be purchased quarter to quarter, and require the applicant to be a current student at SFCC or SCC.
For more information on student plans, see the cashiers office in building 17. For more information on health plans through the ACA, go to healthcare.wa.gov.