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*What is Bidencare?
The unofficial nickname for a set of proposed changes to the ACA (Affordable Care Act), which promises to make healthcare cheaper and more accessible to American citizens.
It may include things such as greater subsidies, lower prescription drug costs, and a Public Option that works similarly to Medicare. Also, while not directly related to Bidencare, the Biden administration did sign a rescue plan on March 11, 2021. The American Rescue Plan act made temporary changes to the affordable care act, which would help millions of uninsured Americans find coverage under the ACA.
While Bidencare has not been passed or put in place, you can still review your health options today. Possible plan options include, but are not limited to Major Medical Plans, Short Term Plans, Fixed Indemnity Plans, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ACA Exchange (AKA the Healthcare Marketplace)?
The Healthcare Marketplace has been around since the original passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Most states let residents enroll via the federal Exchange, but 14 states run their own, independent state Healthcare Marketplace. Most people who need to enroll in a healthcare plan can do so (assuming they are eligible for an enrollment period) on either HealthCare.gov or the website of their local state exchange.
What is the Health Insurance Exchange?
The Health Insurance Exchange is the pool of health care plans and providers which are cooperating with the federal government in order to provide affordable health insurance to Americans in many states. 37 states are members of the Exchange on the federal level: AL, AK, AZ, AK, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, and WY.
To see if you qualify for a tax subsidy, you need to enroll on the Healthcare Marketplace website (either the federal one, or your state\'s website). If you do not qualify for a subsidy for whatever reason, you have the option of shopping through the Exchange or in your state\'s private marketplace.
When and Where Can I Sign Up for Bidencare?
As we touched on earlier, "Bidencare" has not been passed into law yet. And it's still not completely certain if all of it will pass, or if only parts of the proposed legislation will be made into law. In the meantime, brushing up on the following key terms can help make your search for healthcare a little easier.
- Bidencare - the unofficial nickname for a set of proposed changes to the ACA which promise to make healthcare cheaper and more accessible to American citizens. It may include things such as greater subsidies, lower prescription drug costs, and a Public Option that works similarly to Medicare.
- Trumpcare - the unofficial nickname for proposed legislation that was intending to repeal and replace the ACA. However, Congress could not agree on the plan. The legislation ended up being abandoned instead of being passed into law.
- Obamacare - an unofficial nickname for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often shortened to "the Affordable Care Act" or "the ACA". In March of 2010, it was signed into law by then-president Barack Obama.
- Healthcare Marketplace - either state or federal exchange where you can go to enroll and shop for qualifying, ACA-compliant health coverage.
- Subsidized Health Insurance - Any low-cost, ACA-compliant health plan offered at a substantially reduced cost or for free to those who qualify. Examples include Medicaid, Medicare, and subsidized health plans for sale on the Exchange.
- Medical Insurance - just another way of saying "health insurance".
- Health Insurance Companies - companies that provide (underwrite) health insurance plans. These entities pay out claims and help you cover your medical costs when you (the beneficiary) receive medical care.
- Health Insurance Quotes - the amount of money you should expect to pay each month for your health plan premium. Quotes vary by company and by state.
- Premium - a recurring payment, usually monthly, that you must pay on time and in full in order to maintain your healthcare coverage.
- Deductible - a set amount of money you will have to pay for your own medical care out-of-pocket before your health insurance company starts paying out claims. Health plans with higher premiums usually have a low or no deductible. Likewise, plans with high deductibles usually have much lower premiums.
Where Can I Find the Best Health Insurance Provider?
Searching for a high-quality health plan provider is easier than ever. The Exchange you shop on - whether local or federal - will have search options that you can use to more easily find the plan you want. The companies are evaluated based on things like financial stability, customer service, their claims process, and more and assigned a letter grade based on their performance.
Another good strategy is to ask around. Talk to your co-workers, friends, or family who live near you. They might know of or even have coverage with a great provider in your area.
I've Tried Everything, but the Plans on the Exchange Are Still Too Expensive. Now What?
If you can't afford qualifying medical coverage, there are alternative health plans available. But you won't be able to buy them through the Exchange, because these plans don't meet the minimum requirements of the ACA. Some of those alternative plans are:
- Short term health insurance
- Health share plans
- Indemnity plans (doctor and hospital)
- Prescription drug cards
Can You Explain Bidencare a Little More?
Bidencare does not exist yet. The plan is still coming together. But here are the top four facts you need to know about Bidencare in advance of the eventual reveal.
#1: The plan will create a public option that will look and feel a lot like Medicare. The public option will be available either for free or at a drastically reduced cost for anyone who:
- Lives in one of the 14 states where the "Medicaid coverage gap" still exists
- Anyone household living below 138% of the federal poverty level with children in public school, receiving SNAP benefits, or the like
Anyone who wants to buy into the public option and lives at 138% of the federal poverty level or above may choose to do so. It is unclear yet whether the cost of the public option will be on a sliding scale with income, or whether it will be a flat rate charge to enroll. For anybody who does not want to buy into the public option, they can choose to stick with the healthcare they currently have - whether that's a Marketplace plan, a plan through their employer, or an alternate qualifying health plan of their choice.
At this point, it is uncertain whether the individual mandate will make a comeback and/or non-qualifying health plan providers (i.e. short-term health insurance companies) will be prohibited from doing business - although both of these scenarios are possible.
#2: The plan will take steps to make healthcare less confusing and more accessible in addition to creating a Medicare-like public option. Those steps include:
- Eliminating the 400% income cap for tax credit eligibility and offering more substantial tax credits
- Ending "surprise billing"
- Utilizing antitrust laws to break up oligarchies in the healthcare system, thus creating competition and driving down prices for consumers
- Working with low-wage healthcare workers (like home care workers) to improve the quality of care they give and help make sure they get paid what they're worth
#3: The cost of prescription drugs will go down. The Biden plan will mitigate the cost of prescription drugs so that Americans don't have to go without potentially life-saving medications. And it plans to do so in the following ways:
- Allowing Medicare to negotiate better prescription drug prices by eliminating the law which prohibits them from doing so
- Eliminating "launch prices" (i.e. price-gouging) for drugs that don't have competition
- Limiting drug prices to inflation for brand, biotech, and excessively overpriced generic drugs
- Allowing consumers to purchase prescription drugs from other countries
- Ending the tax break pharmaceutical companies get for advertising
- Boosting generic drug supplies
#4: Bidencare will address human rights violationsthat have been inherent in the American healthcare system for many years. The plan will take specific aim at:
- Women's Healthcare - Roe v Wade will be codified into law as a constitutional right, TRAP laws which are designed to make abortion difficult or impossible to get will be repealed where possible, efforts will be made to reduce the ridiculously high US infant/maternity mortality rates (especially among people of color), and federal funding for Planned Parenthood will be restored
- Mental Health Care - parity laws that allow insurance companies to price gouge or limit access to mental health care will be eliminated, and mental health care will be treated with the same level of importance and urgency as any other form of healthcare
- The Global Gag Rule - also known as the "Mexico City Policy", the Global Gag Rule will be repealed under the Biden Administration so that international organizations who receive federal funding for health services rendered overseas will not have their funding revoked for helping people learn about or obtain abortion services
