The law creates some very important changes More access to health care and lower costs: Health Insurance will be better: July-September 2013

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1 A Publication of the National Center for Farmworker Health July-September 2013 Have you been hearing a lot about the health care reform law? This law is called the Affordable Care Act. It is possible that it will affect you and your family. Read this issue to learn the basics about the law, its benefits, and what you may have to do if you do not have health insurance. The Affordable Care Act: What is it? The Affordable Care Act, also known as ACA, is a law that will help more people in the United States be able to get health insurance and health care. The law creates some very important changes More access to health care and lower costs: Many more people will be able to get low-cost health insurance. Some states have chosen to expand their Medicaid program and will offer Medicaid to more people. Go to to find out if your state is expanding Medicaid benefits. The federal government will provide financial help so people can pay for their health insurance. People with insurance will get free preventive care, like blood pressure and cholesterol tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, and many more exams. Health Insurance will be better: All insurance plans MUST include a specific list of essential health benefits so people can get good care. Some are: Emergency services Hospitalization Maternity and newborn care Laboratory services Services for children, including oral and vision care To learn more about other benefits of this law go to

2 HEALTH TIPS Insurance companies will not be able to: limit how much they will pay for medical bills over a person s lifetime cancel an insurance policy just because the person gets sick deny coverage because the person has a pre-existing condition (when someone has a health condition before buying insurance) The law has a VERY IMPORTANT new rule Beginning in 2014, all U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and anyone legally present in the United States MUST HAVE health insurance. If you do not have health insurance by March 31st, 2014 you may have to pay a fee to the government when you pay your taxes in You WILL NOT need to get health insurance if: you already have private health insurance or Medicaid getting health insurance will be too much money for you to pay, even with the government s help you will be in the country for less than 3 continuous months in a calendar year The law creates a new way to get health insurance The new Health Insurance Marketplace will make it easy for you to compare health insurance plans and get the one that will work best for you and your family. Read the next article to learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace and what you will need to do. Important Dates October 1, 2013: First day to buy insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace January 1, 2014: Health insurance benefits begins March 31, 2014: Last date to buy insurance through the Marketplace This publication was made possible through grant number 2 U30CS from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of BPHC/HRSA/DHHS, or any agency of the federal government.

3 A Publication of the National Center for Farmworker Health The Health Insurance Marketplace: A New Way for People to Buy Health Insurance At the Health Insurance Marketplace you will be able to find out more about different insurance plans. You will also be able to find out: if you qualify for low cost insurance through Medicaid, or if you qualify to get financial aid from the federal government to buy a private health insurance plan. The government will help people who qualify in different ways. For example: giving a tax credit to help pay the monthly premium for your insurance plan, and lowering the out-of-pocket costs of your insurance plan. The amount of financial help you may get will depend on how much money your family makes and how many people are in your family. Remember: the Marketplace will open on October 1st, 2013 and close on March 31st, Words to Know Tax Credit: income tax deduction to help you pay your monthly premiums Premiums: fees you pay to your insurance company to get coverage, usually monthly Out-of-pocket costs: fees you pay to get health care even if you have insurance, like copayments and deductibles Follow these steps to get your health insurance as soon as possible: 1. Fill out your Marketplace application. You will have to provide information about your family income, family size, and more. Gather documents that show how much money each person in the family earns, like W-2s, pay stubs, or tax returns. Also make sure you have social security numbers for each person applying for insurance. 2. Compare your insurance plan options. If you do not qualify for Medicaid and have to buy a private insurance plan, you will have many choices to compare. Look carefully at the financial assistance you qualify for. Then compare all health insurance plans and choose the plan that fits your health needs and budget. 3. Enroll in an insurance plan. After you choose your plan, you may have to give more information to sign up and start getting your benefits. Artícle 2: July-September 2013 Some states will have their own Health Insurance Marketplace website, but other states will not. If your state does not have its own Marketplace website, then you will use the federal government s Marketplace at

4 HEALTH TIPS There are three ways of doing all of this: Online by going to this website: www. healthcare.gov Through mail correspondence by filling out your application on paper and sending via mail With a person trained to provide help at a location in your community If you need help with any part of this process, go to a trained counselor or navigator in your community. They may be at places like Health Centers, libraries, Medicaid and CHIP offices, or community-based organizations. To find out the places in your community where you can get help, go to this website: There you will find a list of organizations in your area with contact information, office hours, and a description of the type of help they can give you. For help call: This publication was made possible through grant number 2 U30CS from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of BPHC/HRSA/DHHS, or any agency of the federal government.

5 A Publication of the National Center for Farmworker Health The Affordable Care Act May Benefit You! Hi! I am Mateo. I work at the local health center and my job is to answer questions about the Affordable Care Act. I want to share with you how the ACA will benefit many people Pedro and his wife have their own landscaping business. They have two children. They make too much money to get Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance. They are going to the Marketplace to apply for health insurance and find out what type of government help they qualify for. This will depend on how much money they make and the size of the family. They are excited that they will now be able to get health insurance they can afford. Elena is a student and has a part-time job. She does not get health insurance through her job. In the past, she has tried to buy her own insurance but insurance companies have denied her coverage because she has diabetes. Thanks to the new law, she can apply for health insurance in the Marketplace to compare her options and does not need to worry that she has diabetes. Miguel and his family have always had health insurance through his job. His factory just closed down and now he has no insurance. The new law says everyone must have health insurance, so he will go to the Marketplace to see what his choices are to get insurance for his whole family. Jose is a single man with two part-time jobs. His employers do not offer health insurance. Under the new law, his state chose to expand the Medicaid program and he may now qualify. He is going to fill out an application in the Marketplace to find out. Artícle 2: July-September 2013

6 HEALTH TIPS Rosa works at a restaurant but does not get health insurance through her job. Her husband gets health insurance through his job but adding Rosa to his insurance plan is very expensive. Now Rosa can go to the Marketplace to see if she can buy cheaper insurance for herself. As you can see, because of the Affordable Care Act, more people will now be able to get health insurance and pay for it! Some states will offer Medicaid benefits to more people. Also, the government will offer financial help to those who qualify. So, don t wait! Fill out your Marketplace application to find out what help you may get to buy your health insurance before March 31, New Information about Medicines on Our Website Be a smart consumer! Learn about the most effective, safest and affordable medicines to treat pain, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression, menopause, and other conditions. Visit to download a free copy of any of our Factsheets on the Safest and Most Affordable Medicines. This publication was made possible through grant number 2 U30CS from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of BPHC/HRSA/DHHS, or any agency of the federal government.

7 A Publication of the National Center for Farmworker Health José Jiménez and his wife, Lucy, have two daughters that will be getting Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The children were born in the United States. José and Lucy do not qualify for health insurance under the ACA. They need a place where they can all get heath care services. They go to visit their local health center to find out more about their services. Read on to see what Matilde, a community health worker, tells them. Matilde: Welcome I m happy you decided to come in to learn about our services. José: Now that our children will be getting Medicaid, we are very excited to bring them here to get health services, but my wife and I do not have health insurance. Matilde: Do not worry. You can get health care here. Some of our patients have private insurance, some have Medicaid or CHIP, and some do not have insurance at all. We offer a discounted fee for many services to make it easier to pay, if you do not have insurance. José: Can you tell us more about your services? Matilde: Yes, take a look at this brochure. Algunos de estos servicios son: Community Health Centers: Your Place to Get Health Care A Health Center is a place where men, women, and children can come to get basic health care services. General check-ups to prevent disease Care for high blood pressure, diabetes, flu, etc. Eye care Dental care Care for mom and baby Care for children Pharmacy services Health centers have excellent health care providers You can get appointments at times that are good for you, sometimes in the evenings and weekends You can get services at a discounted price Most of them offer transportation and interpretation services Artícle 2: July-September 2013

8 HEALTH TIPS Matilde: To get services, you need to register as a patient. You will need to bring these documents: A Photo ID, like a driver s license, so you can prove who you are A water, gas, or electric bill with your name and address printed on it, so you can prove where you live A document that proves how much money your family makes in a year like pay-stubs, W-2 forms, etc. Once you and your family are registered, you can get the health care you need, and the special services and discounts that may be available for you! To find a Health Center near you, call the Call for Health Program at This publication was made possible through grant number 2 U30CS from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of BPHC/HRSA/DHHS, or any agency of the federal government.