The Affordable Care Act is on its way to delivering more health coverage for millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands living with HIV or AIDS with the release of significantly shortened Health Insurance Marketplace applications.
Earlier this week, HHS released new versions of their single streamlined applications for individuals and families. Three versions now exist – one for single adults seeking financial assistance paying for insurance, one for families/all others seeking financial assistance, and one for those not seeking financial assistance.
Service providers can begin to familiarize themselves with the applications and resources available to assist eligible clients as much as possible when open enrollment begins on October 1, 2013. As noted in the May 1 press release from HHS Secretary Sebelius, these revised applications are intended to simplify and shorten the length of health insurance forms and minimize barriers to enrollment. The applications cover financial assistance options as well as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and tax credits to help pay for premiums.
Fewer than one in five people living with HIV have private insurance and nearly 24% have no coverage at all. With insurance premium assistance available through the Ryan White program, many people living with HIV will gain access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance, which remained out of reach prior to the ACA.
To read the statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services, click here.
You can review the revised Health Insurance Marketplace applications via the links provided below:
Individual Short Form
Family
Individual without Financial Assistance