Cover Oregon Help: Changes for Healthcare Coverage

Over the next 12 months you will see changes to healthcare and healthcare plans, driven by federal healthcare reform, also known as Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). New healthcare reform rules primarily affect people who don’t currently have a plan, or who buy their own plan and aren’t offered coverage through their employer.

We know you’ll hear confusing information about these changes. Please know we are always here to help.

How Do These Changes Affect Me?

Starting in 2014, everyone will need to have healthcare coverage. If your employer doesn’t offer coverage, you must buy your own health plan or pay a penalty.

How Much is the Penalty?

In 2014, people who don’t have health coverage could face a penalty of either $95 or 1% of your income on your taxes in 2015. You’ll pay whichever is greater. The penalty will increase every year. Learn about penalties.

How Much Will Coverage Cost Me?

The cost of coverage will vary depending on your plan choice, your age, where you live, and whether you use tobacco. LifeWise offers you a range of plans designed to help you balance the cost you want to pay with the level of coverage you need.

If you need help paying for your coverage, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. The tax credit could significantly reduce your monthly payments, so it’s important to understand whether you qualify.
Open enrollment is a set amount of time you have each year to choose or make a change to your health plan. So you don’t want to let it slip by.

You can get LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon coverage directly from us, from your LifeWise producer or from Cover Oregon.

This is the first day you can use your new plan.

Make sure you choose a new plan on or before March 31st, 2014. If you don’t:

Your current plan will end unless you had your current plan, on or before March 23, 2010, and have not made any changes to the plan.

You will have to wait until the next open enrollment period of October 1, 2014 to get a new plan.
Our Commitment to You:

We’ll clearly explain the changes that affect you, and tell you why they’re happening.

We’ll let you know in plenty of time if you need to take action

We’ll do our best to make these changes easy to understand.

We’ll tell you if there are choices you can make that will help keep costs down.