Top 5 things college students need to know about the health care law


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As the nation approaches the second year of the Affordable Care Act, there are still looming questions about the health care law, particularly for students. Students face unique challenges, often falling between being eligible for their parent’s plan and a plan of their own. FIU News spoke with two of South Florida’s leading health care coalitions, Enroll America and the Health Council of South Florida, to find out the top 5 things college students need to know about the health care law and how to enroll by the Feb. 15, 2015 deadline.

1. You may be eligible for financial assistance: “91% of Floridians that enrolled in the marketplace last year received financial assistance,” said Milton Vazquez, Miami organizer for Enroll America. “Of those, the average monthly premium was $68 per month.” How do you know if you’re eligible for assistance? “The only place to receive cost-assistance is in the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Maura Shiffman, manager of community health and data for Health Council of South Florida.

2. Even if you enrolled in the marketplace last year, you need to reenroll again: As many as 50 plans that were offered last year are not offered again this year. That means that you may need to pick a new plan. “The coverage provided by a plan could also be different in terms of doctor networks, prescription medicines covered and more,” Vazquez said. In fact, Shiffman suggests reviewing your application again to confirm income and household information, which has the ability to decrease or increase assistance.

3. Enrollment events are open to FIU students and the community: In person assisters/navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CACs) are here to educate you about the option that fits your needs. Last year, two FIU Law students lead the local effort; they reached more than 300 families. Since insurance shopping can be very tedious, make an appointment to attend an event with those who want coverage to find out what your best options are. Click here to view FIU enrollment events.

4. Those without insurance could face a tax penalty: If you don’t have health insurance, you could face a monthly penalty when you go to pay your taxes. The deadline for enrollment is Feb. 15, 2015. According to HealthCare.gov, if you don’t have coverage in 2015, you’ll pay the higher of these two amounts:

  • 2% of your yearly household income. (Only the amount of income above the tax filing threshold, about $10,000 for an individual, is used to calculate the penalty.) The maximum penalty will be the national average premium for a bronze plan.
  • $325 per person for the year ($162.50 per child under 18). The maximum penalty per family using this method is $975.

5. It pays to get covered:  Even if you’re rarely ever sick, health insurance could bring your annual health expenses to zero. “Free preventative services covered by the plans range from things you would expect, such as immunizations, mammograms and many other screenings, contraception, and HIV/STD screenings, to many you wouldn’t realize would be included cost-free, such as physical and mental health services,” said Vazquez. “Often times, those include alcohol and substance-abuse counseling, diet counseling, depression screenings, and domestic and interpersonal violence counseling.” With an emergency room visit for a sprained ankle costing up to $24,000, it pays to get covered!

For more information about the Affordable Care Act, visit healthcare.gov or attend a free enrollment event. FIU students are also eligible to purchase insurance through the university sponsored plan, Gallagher Student Health. Click here to view upcoming enrollment events and what to bring.