3 Reasons to Enroll in Obama Care

Protecting the family is important, we never know when an unforeseen health can come and it is best to be prepared, now with the new changes to health insurance, it is best to be informed.

* I am participating in a paid outreach program for Consumer Reports.Having

health insurance has given us the peace of mind of being able to go to the doctor, without the fear of staying on the street for expenses, you never know if you are going to face any expensive illness or treatment.

In our case we have insurance from the employer, it has served us a lot, because there is never any consultation missing from a flu or vaccine to routine and emergency examinations. 

Consumer Reports offers us a survey-type guide called "Ensure Your Health", I already used it, answered less than ten short questions and in the end gave me the options of insurance that recommended me, according to my immigration status, income, age and number of family memb

ers . Use it and check which options are recommended to make your best decision.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects us all differently, we need to stay informed, remember that Enrollments for Obama Care, end on March 31, 2014.

Changes for people with health insurance include: insurance companies can no longer reject people or charge them more for pre-existing conditions, that young adults can stay in their parents' insurance until they are 26 and no longer ay lifetime limits on insurance policies. 

If you're not insured or have to buy your own insurance, there are important factors in the new law that you may not know about. The new State Health Insurance Marketplaces are now open and the open enrollment period ends in March, it's important to find out how these factors can affect you.

1. After March 31, you won't be able to get health coverage until next year. 

You will only be able to purchase private health insurance during the Open Enrollment Period, except in special specific circumstances, whether you purchase through or outside the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you don't sign up for March 31, 2014, you won't have health coverage until at least January 1, 2015.

Can you imagine if you get sick all of a sudden and need urgent medical care?  It's better to get coverage from now on.

To change your coverage outside of open enrollment, you would need a "qualifying life event" within 60 days to make a change for example if you have a baby, change your marital status, increase your salary and become ineligible for Medicaid or Chip, if you get the Green Card or a non-tourist visa, etc.

Depending on your family's size and income, you may be able to reduce your monthly premium through a tax credit called the "Upfront Health Premium Tax Credit". 

For example, a family of 4 with incomes up to $94,000 might qualify for help. If you don't review this, you might pass up the opportunity to receive this money to help you pay for insurance. 

Check to see if you qualify in the Consumer Reports tool www.healthtaxcredittool.org.

If your income is too low, you or your children may be eligible to receive government-subsidized Medicaid and CHIP programs for the lowest-income Americans. These programs are exempt from the open enrollment period and can be signed up at any time.

Act soon, insurance plans purchased after March 15 can leave you waiting until May 1 for coverage to begin acting. 

Take your time to make your decision, inform yourself with the Consumer Reports Guide, compare, depending on where you live, there may be several different plan options you can choose from with variable deductibles, co-pays, doctor networks, and monthly premiums. 

It is important to review those options carefully and not in the penultimate hour before the open enrollment period closes.

Finally, remember that Consumer Reports have impartial health experts who are available to advise and answer questions left over from Obama Care 7 days a week.