Health Insurance Marketplace & Medicare

Health Insurance Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most American citizens to have health insurance. Understanding your health insurance options, getting the right coverage and properly enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace can be confusing – but we’re here to help you.

UnityPoint Health is committed to keeping your health on point. Our certified application counselors on staff can help you understand your health insurance options and make sure you’re properly enrolled for the right health coverage at no cost to you.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a new way to find coverage that fits your budget and meets your needs - whether you're uninsured or just want to explore your choices.

Our Federal and state-certified counselors can assist with:

• Understanding the marketplace's insurance options
• Determining coverage differences (bronze, silver, gold, or platinum plans)
• Determining if you’re eligible for Medicaid
• Helping you research plans that best meet your needs and budget
• Determining your eligibility for financial assistance to help pay for insurance
• Completing and submitting your application

Medicare and the Affordable Care Act

Your Medicare coverage is protected

Medicare is NOT part of the Health Insurance Marketplace established by the ACA, so you don't have to replace your Medicare coverage with Marketplace coverage. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll still have the same benefits and security you have now.

Choosing a Medicare Plan

If you need help choosing a Medicare plan, or have questions, there are free resources available to you:

• Visit Medicare.gov
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• Chapter provides no-cost Medicare counseling to Medicare patients. You can reach them at (888) 717-8587 or schedule an appointment at askchapter.org/unitypointhealth

Beware of Fraud

If you’re enrolled in Medicare and receive a call stating you need to enroll in the Marketplace, it may be fraud.

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)

The purpose of SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) is to provide free, unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), Medicare supplement plans and other supplemental insurance, billing and claims issues, Medicare fraud and abuse.

This service is provided by trained volunteers whose goal is to serve Medicare beneficiaries by assisting them to make insurance decision-making easier, provide information to compare Medicare and insurance plans, assist with enrolling in Medicare prescription drug plans and assistance programs and understanding the bills they receive for their healthcare. Counselors provide one-to-one assistance in a confidential setting. These counselors are not affiliated with any insurance, financial planning or pharmaceutical industries. The volunteers are trained and ready to answer questions and provide impartial information to help seniors make well-informed decisions.

• I'm retiring. What kind of health insurance do I need?
• I can't make sense of my Medicare statements and medical bills. What do I do next?
• Do I need a Medicare supplement policy?
• How can I help my parents with health insurance?
• There's an error on my bill. What did I do?

• Going on Medicare
• Age 65 or older and on Medicare
• On Medicare because of a disability, end stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Medicare Part D Open Enrollment

Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment occurs yearly from October 15 – December 7. This is the annual period during which Medicare plan enrollees can reevaluate their coverage — whether it's original Medicare with drug coverage, or Medicare Advantage — and make changes if they’d like. Changes go into effect on January 1.