Sometimes South Carolina seems as if it lives in a different universe. For example, while South Carolina’s Senator Lindsey Graham is running a political TV ad touting his opt-out of Obamacare legislation – less than 1% are opting out of of Obamacare.
Since I know that some of my family lives in South Carolina, I wanted to be sure they have access to this good news and provide links to information they may need:
What South Carolina Residents Need to Know About Obamacare
Welcome to the fastest way to find out about Obamacare in South Carolina.
Here, you’ll find clear and accurate information about Obamacare, including:
- whether or not you must get health insurance
- what the available plans cover
- how much coverage will cost, and
- how to sign up for a plan.
To begin, keep in mind these key points about Obamacare in South Carolina:
1. You must have health insurance, unless you qualify for an exemption.
The Affordable Care Act requires you to enroll in a health insurance plan unless you qualify for an exemption from the law. You will report whether you have coverage — or whether you are exempt — when you file your taxes in April.
Open enrollment for 2014 has ended, but you may still be able to get coverage if you qualify for a special enrollment period. If you don’t, you must wait until the next open enrollment period to sign up for coverage. For coverage beginning in 2015, open enrollment is scheduled to run from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015.
To learn whether your current health plan satisfies the requirements of Obamacare or to find out whether you qualify for an exemption, see Do I Need to Get Obamacare in South Carolina?
2. You can shop for affordable health care plans at HealthCare.gov.
Residents of South Carolina will use the website HealthCare.gov to choose their Obamacare plan, apply for cost-saving subsidies, and get other help they need.
If you are currently uninsured, you can use the state marketplace to compare plans and enroll in a plan that meets your needs.
If you already have health insurance, either as an individual or through your job, you may be able to keep your current plan — or you can use HealthCare.gov to shop for a new one.
If you want to switch from an existing plan to a marketplace plan, see “What if I already have health insurance?”
To learn more about enrollment, see How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in South Carolina?
3. You may qualify for subsidies that will save you money.
Many people who sign up for insurance at the South Carolina exchange will be eligible for cost savings. Savings are available in the form of new tax credits to help you lower your premiums or reduce your out-of-pocket costs for care.
If your income is very low, you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid in South Carolina.
For more information, see Ways to Save Money on Obamacare in South Carolina.
For an overview of how much health care plans cost under Obamacare, see How Much Does Obamacare Cost in South Carolina?
4. If you used HealthCare.gov to enroll for 2014, you may be automatically re-enrolled for 2015 — and that may not be a good thing.
Most people who purchased their 2014 insurance plan from an online marketplace will be able to automatically renew their coverage for 2015. In other words, your insurance will continue even if you do nothing during the open enrollment period from November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015. That sounds convenient, but automatic renewal exposes you to a number of potential pitfalls.
- If your insurer decides to cancel your current plan, you could be switched to another plan without warning. The new plan may cost you more or change your eligibility for financial assistance.
- Automatic re-enrollment could mean you aren’t getting the right subsidy package. This could leave you facing higher monthly premiums now or — if you take more assistance than you’re eligible for — a big tax bill later.
- You may miss out on a better deal or better coverage if you don’t compare all available plans to your current plan.
While allowing yourself to be automatically re-enrolled is better than going without insurance, it’s best to take advantage of open enrollment. You’ll be able to shop around and evaluate new plans and costs. Even if you decide to stay with the plan you have, you can use open enrollment to confirm your personal information and ensure you’re getting the right amount of financial aid.