Sidebar:   

How North Carolinians get their insurance now: 

Through employers: 4.6 million    

Medicare: 1.6 million    

Medicaid: 1.4 million  

Individual policies: 435,000    

Uninsured: 1.5 million 

 

[in October] Health insurance exchange will get rolling    Health insurers will begin enrolling customers under the Affordable Care Act on Oct. 1 and will begin providing subsidized coverage Jan.1. North Carolinians who already get insurance through their employers may see changes in price and coverage options in the future. The new law includes subsidies, called premium tax credits, averaging $5,000 a year, for those who fall within certain income levels. 

 

The actual amount of the subsidy depends on multiple factors. Most people who can’t afford subsidized health insurance will qualify for the federal Medicaid program. The health insurance subsidies will be available to individuals with annual income up to $45,960 a year, or a family of four with household income up to $94,200. Insurers here are seeking state and federal approval of several dozen plans that vary in coverage and cost. The least expensive will cover 60 percent of medical costs, leaving 40 percent to the individual. The most expensive will cover 90 percent of medical costs, leaving 10 percent to the individual. 

 

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Ironically, the subtitle for this front page story is ‘Only 3 firms are set to aid the uninsured.’

 

I guess the writers at the paper consider choice of providers important–except when it involves care for the mentally ill.  Also, it [the subtitle]ignores that BC/BS has a virtual monopoly with only a couple of other major insurance firms competing for NC’s healthcare dollars.  

 

Learn how to enroll under the Affordable Care Act:www.healthcare.gov.

 

MARTHA  BROCK

Cary, NC