Let’s Apply for Healthcare Coverage!
November 12, 2018
Share:There is a lot of information to help you apply for health insurance through the ACA Marketplace (Obamacare) – maybe too much! So we have put together this version of the information checklist you can use to be prepared to complete an application on your first try.
At the bottom of this post you will find a link to print the checklist out as a pdf as well as a quick evaluation tool to see what your potential coverage could be, what subsidies you may qualify for, and the expected annual cost of such coverage.
Also, at the bottom of this post is the name, address, and phone number of a licensed Assistance service in Hood County. They are available to help you find and apply for the “Obamacare” Marketplace health coverage.
The ACA website, www.healthcare.gov is subject to weekly maintenance outages, generally on Sundays. If the system isn’t up, try again – DON’T GIVE UP. You must apply for coverage by December 15th, this year.
** NOTE: You must have an email address to enroll via the internet.** Free email addresses can be obtained from GOOGLE, YAHOO, and many other sources.
This checklist will explain what information you will need to have to fill out your application. Make sure you gather all that you need to fill it out ahead of time. That will make the process go much more easily.
START HERE - Your Marketplace application will ask about each person in your household, even those not applying for coverage. For the Marketplace, your household usually includes the tax filers and their dependents, but there are exceptions.
Here’s a basic list of the people you will include, if these conditions apply to you.
SECTION 1: INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD
- Include yourself
- Your spouse
- Your children who live with you, even if they make enough money to file a tax return themselves.
- Anyone you include as a dependent on your tax return, even if they don’t live with you
- Your unmarried partner if one or both of the following conditions apply:
- They’re your dependent for tax purposes
- They’re the parent of your child
For more information, visit HOUSEHOLD SIZE or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
SECTION 2: HOME AND OR MAILING ADDRESSES for everyone applying for coverage.
Where you live can affect what health coverage you are eligible for.
You’ll enter your home address to show you’re a resident of the state where you’re seeking coverage (you’ll select your state at the beginning of the application). You can’t list a P.O. box as your home address.
You’ll be asked for your mailing address. Often, this will be the same as your home address. If it’s not, pick a mailing address in the state you live in, if you can. You can enter a street address or a P.O. box.
If anyone on your application has a different home and/or mailing address, you’ll need to have it also.
SECTION 3: INFORMATION ABOUT EVERYONE applying for coverage.
Your Marketplace application will ask you to enter some basic information about everyone applying for coverage, including their relationship to you. Relationships include spouse, domestic partner, parent, stepparent, parent’s domestic partner, son/daughter, stepson/stepdaughter, child of domestic partner, brother/sister, uncle/aunt, and nephew/niece.
Visit RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS for the complete list of relationships.
SECTION 4: SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS (SSN) for everyone on your application
Your Marketplace application will ask you to enter each person’s 9-digit SSN, even those not applying for coverage. The Marketplace will verify the SSNs with Social Security, based upon the consent you give at the start of your application. If you don’t enter an SSN you may need to provide more information at a later time.
The information will only be used for eligibility for health coverage. For more information, visit ENTER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?
SECTION 5: INFORMATION ABOUT PROFESSIONAL HELPING YOU APPLY (this only applies if you’re getting help completing your application). See Hood County assistance service at the bottom of this post.
Visit WHOS HELPING ME for directions on this section.
SECTION 6: IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT INFORMATION (this only applies to lawfully present immigrants)
Visit IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT TYPES for directions on this section.
SECTION 7: INFORMATION ON HOW YOU’LL FILE YOUR TAXES
If you file federal income taxes, the Marketplace needs to know:
- If married, do you file separately or jointly?
- Who do you claim as a tax dependent?
For more information on how to answer these questions, visit WHAT DO I NEED TO ENTER
If your household files more than one tax return, you’ll need to file separate applications. For more information visit WHAT IF WE FILE MORE THAN ONE
SECTION 8: EMPLOYER AND INCOME INFORMATION for everyone in your household
Your Marketplace application may ask about the income, expenses, and deductions for everyone in your household, even those not applying for coverage.
The Marketplace accounts for income sources including:
- Wages and salaries, as reported on your W-2 form and pay stubs
- Tips
- Net income from any self-employment or business
- Unemployment compensation
- Social Security payments, including disability payments (but not Supplemental Security Income (SSI))
- Alimony
- Retirement or pension income, including most IRA or 401(k) withdrawals
- Investment income, like dividends or interest
- Rental income
- Other taxable income
For more information on income or what income sources to include, visit HOUSEHOLD INCOME
SECTION 9: YOUR BEST ESTIMATE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Your Marketplace application may ask you to estimate what your household’s income will be in the year you’ll be covered.
If you’re not sure, it’s OK to make your best estimate. If your income changes, or is different from what you estimated, you’ll need to report this later. For more information, visit WHY REPORT CHANGES
To help you make a ballpark estimate of your household income, visit HOW TO REPORT CHANGES
SECTION 10: HEALTH COVERAGE INFORMATION (this only applies if anyone in your household currently has a health plan)
Your Marketplace application will ask if anyone in your household is currently enrolled in health coverage, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, TRICARE, VA health care program, Peace Corps, or coverage through individual insurance or an employer.
If anyone has coverage now, gather their policy numbers. You can find this information on their insurance card or documents they get from their plan.
SECTION 11: EMPLOYER INFORMATION for each person in your household
Your Marketplace application will ask you to enter information about offers of health coverage you may have through your job or through a family member’s job. It will also ask you to enter employer contact information for each person in your household who has a job.
SECTION 12: A COMPLETED “EMPLOYER COVERAGE TOOL” (this is optional and only applies if anyone in your household has or is eligible for coverage through their employer)
You should fill out an “Employer Coverage Tool” for each member of your family who’s eligible for a job-based plan, even if that person isn’t enrolled in the job based plan or isn’t applying for Marketplace coverage. You can get this information from the employer. This optional tool helps you gather information you may need for your application in one spot. To get a copy of this form, visit EMPLOYER COVERAGE TOOL Your employer can help you fill this out.
Now that you’ve gathered all necessary information, visit HEALTHCARE.GOV, call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, or meet with the professional helping you to apply for or renew your Marketplace coverage. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For a pdf version of this document, visit GET READY TO APPLY OR RENEW YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE COVERAGE (Obamacare)
QUICK EVALUATION OF YOUR POTENTIAL COVERAGE, SUBSIDY, and COSTS
HOOD COUNTY Assistors can help you apply for your Marketplace Healthcare Coverage.
- Lake Granbury Medical Center
- 1310 Paluxy Road
- Granbury, TX 76048
- Phone: 817-408-3154
- Hours: M-F, 9:00 - 4:00
- E-mail: esscontact@chs.net
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