eHealth Answers Consumer Questions About Republican Proposals to Overhaul Health Insurance & the Affordable Care Act After the Election of Donald Trump

Business Wire

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:EHTH) (www.ehealth.com), the nation’s first and largest private online health insurance exchange, released answers to questions health insurance shoppers may be asking about Republican proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare).

“Serving the needs and interests of health insurance shoppers has been our number one job since 1997, and we’re more committed to it than ever,” said eHealth CEO Scott Flanders. “Consumers are confused about the future of health reform in the United States right now, and Republican proposals to alter or replace the ACA are not yet written in stone. But the cost of coverage under the ACA has been a burden to many and eHealth will continue to support any proposals and legislative solutions that put affordable, flexible health insurance coverage within the reach of all Americans.”

Answers provided to the “Frequently Asked Questions” below seek to clarify the impact of a potential Republican proposal for consumers. Answers are based in part on draft proposals published in June 2016 by Republicans of the House of Representatives and by President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions:
What Does the Future of Health Reform Look Like?

Q: Is the Affordable Care Act going away?
A: The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. President-Elect Trump has promised to ask Congress to repeal and replace it early in his administration, but it’s not likely that significant changes could come into effect until well into 2017 at earliest.

Q: It’s open enrollment season right now, so should I still shop for 2017 health insurance coverage?
A: Yes. Everyone should have health insurance, and now is the time to shop. Without coverage, you leave yourself open to potentially burdensome medical bills, or even bankruptcy. If you want coverage under a new plan to begin by January 1, 2017, you typically need to enroll by December 15, 2016. Open enrollment is scheduled to continue through January 31, 2017.

Q: If I buy a plan now, can I cancel it next year if new options become available?
A: Yes. When you enroll in a new plan, you are not committing to keeping it all year. If you prefer to enroll in a new plan in the future, you can cancel your current coverage at any time.

Q: Are there other options if I really can’t afford to buy an Obamacare health insurance plan today?
A: You may want to consider a short-term health insurance plan. Just be aware that short-term coverage is not a full replacement for an Obamacare health insurance plan, for many reasons. For example, unlike Obamacare plans, short-term plans typically consider your pre-existing medical conditions, so you may be denied coverage or face waiting periods or certain exclusions related to pre-existing medical conditions. Most short-term plans are significantly more affordable than major medical plans in terms of monthly premiums. However, short-term plans do not count as minimum essential coverage under Obamacare because they typically cover much less than Obamacare plans. As such, short-term plans may leave you open to a potential tax penalty under the Affordable Care Act if you do not qualify for an exemption from the tax penalty. There are also limitations on how long a short-term plan can be in effect, with many plans next year expected to be available for terms of only 3 months or less. Rules regarding short-term plans may change under a Trump administration.

Q: Would Republican proposals eliminate the health insurance plan I have now?
A: Neither Donald Trump’s nor the draft House Republican proposals are designed to eliminate specific health insurance plans. However, if the ACA is repealed or changed, it is likely that insurers could decide to change or stop offering some of the plans they currently offer, especially plans currently sold through government exchanges.

Q: Will the tax penalty for going uninsured go away?
A: Probably. Both the draft House Republican and Donald Trump’s proposals would repeal the tax penalty for not having Obamacare-compliant health insurance coverage. However, it is not clear when such a change would take effect or how the details of the repeal would work, if it happens.

Q: Will there be a specific open enrollment period?
A: Under the draft House Republican plan there would be an initial open enrollment period during which anyone can apply for coverage at the standard rate (that is, the rate a healthy person with a history of continuous coverage would typically pay). After this, you could be required to pay a higher rate based on your health status or medical or coverage history.

Q: What happens if I lose my job, move, get married, or start a business?
A: Under the draft House Republican plan, your coverage in such scenarios would likely still be “guaranteed issue” if such events count as a qualifying life event under the new plan. This means that pre-existing medical conditions could not affect your eligibility for coverage and you would be able to retain your coverage or shop for a new plan without being medically underwritten or declined, so long as you don’t have a gap in your coverage. However, because the proposals are still changing, it is not entirely clear which events would count as qualifying life events and what the specific rules may be that would allow you to purchase a new plan with these protections.

Q: Will I have to pay more for health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?
A: Under the draft House Republican plan, you would not face medical underwriting or higher monthly premiums based on your health as long as you don’t have a gap in coverage before enrolling in a new plan.

Q: Will I be able to purchase health insurance from a state where it’s more affordable?
A: Likely yes. The draft House Republican plan would make it easier for states to enter into interstate compacts that may allow the sale of health insurance across state lines. Donald Trump’s plan would also allow for the purchase of coverage across state lines. However, it is still uncertain if these proposed changes would actually result in insurance companies offering more affordable plans in many states or regions.

Q: Would health insurance benefits be the same as those under Obamacare-compliant plans?
A: Not necessarily. Neither the draft House Republican plan nor Mr Trump’s proposals provide details on health insurance benefits, but it appears that benefits may be more flexible than those required for current Obamacare-compliant health insurance plans. For example, you may have the option to enroll in a plan that does not cover things like maternity care or brand-name prescription drugs.

Q: Will tax credits or subsidies still be available?
A: The draft House Republican proposal would allow anyone buying their own health insurance to qualify for tax credits, regardless of their income. Under the ACA, tax credits end abruptly once your annual income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty level, but the draft House plan would extend tax credits to people at any income level. Donald Trump’s proposal would allow all Americans to deduct health insurance premiums from their taxable income.

Q: How much will the tax credit be? How will it be determined?
A: Current proposals do not specify the dollar value of the new tax credits. However, tax credits could be based on your age and geography rather than your income. Older people could get a bigger tax credit, as could people who live in more expensive areas of the country.

Q: What if the cost of my plan is too high even with a tax credit?
A: The draft House Republican proposal would likely place limitations on rate increases. Persons still unable to afford health insurance may be able to turn to state-run high-risk insurance pools, where available, to buy subsidized health coverage at a reduced price.

Q: What if my tax credit is bigger than my insurance premium? Does that money go back to the government?
A: You would likely be able to keep the extra tax credit. The draft House Republican proposal suggests that you may get to keep any excess tax credits you receive for use in a Health Savings Account (HSA), to pay for qualified medical expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. Mr Trump also strongly supports the broader use of HSAs.

Q: What if I don’t have an HSA?
A: You may want to consider enrolling in a health insurance plan eligible for use with a Health Savings Account. Both Donald Trump’s and the draft House Republican proposals would increase the tax-free contributions you’re allowed to make to an HSA. A Republican proposal could also allow employers to contribute to an HSA on your behalf (on a pre-tax basis).

Please note that because the political situation is constantly changing and difficult to predict, it is still uncertain when or if any of the proposals for health care reform described in this FAQ may actually be enacted, either in part or in whole. Furthermore, even if new reforms are enacted, it is very likely that the final reforms will differ significantly from the proposals described in this document. As such, eHealth does not recommend that health insurance consumers drop or change their insurance coverage or take other drastic actions in anticipation of any proposal being enacted.

eHealth

eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:EHTH) owns eHealth.com, the nation's first and largest private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).