Health Law Has Caveat on Renewal of Coverage – NYTimes.com

Open enrollment for health benefits is more than it appears. Pay close attention to the information you receive. Read it carefully‼️ Avoid unpleasant surprises come 2015.

WASHINGTON — Millions of consumers will soon receive notices from health insurance companies stating that their coverage is being automatically renewed for 2015, along with the financial assistance they received this year from the federal government.

But consumer advocates and insurers say they see a significant potential for confusion because some of the information will be out of date and misleading on costs and other aspects of coverage. Some people who have been receiving monthly subsidy payments this year could get much less if they stay in their current health plans.

The Obama administration announced in June that most people with insurance purchased in the federal marketplace would be automatically enrolled in the same or similar plans next year, so they would not need to file applications or go back to HealthCare.gov to continue their coverage.

Now, however, the administration is emphasizing that consumers should revisit the marketplace to make sure they are getting the right amount of financial assistance and to compare other health plans.

President Obama said in April that eight million people had enrolled in private health plans through federal and state marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total will climb to 13 million in the next open enrollment period, which runs for three months starting on Nov. 15.

Federal officials told insurers this month to send out standard renewal notices written by the government. The notices inform consumers of the new monthly premium for their health plans in 2015 and the most recent amount of any subsidy, or tax credit, paid for a household in 2014.

In many cases, insurers will notify consumers that they face higher premiums but will not provide them any information about higher subsidies in 2015, a prospect that distresses insurers and consumer advocates.

via Health Law Has Caveat on Renewal of Coverage – NYTimes.com.