CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System - LiveWell

3 LiveWell | Spring 2014 Hundreds of thousands of Texans are benefiting from more insurance options thanks to the national health insurance marketplace. Meet Us On January 1, 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) offered heath care coverage for many Americans who would otherwise not have the means to buy it. Many enrollees live right here in Texas. By the end of March 2014, nearly 300,000 Texans enrolled in health insurance through Healthcare.gov, the official enrollment website for the ACA's health insurance marketplace. In fact, Texas ranked third for the number of residents who signed up for health insurance through Healthcare.gov, behind California and Florida. GOOD NEWS FOR TEX AS Texas is one of 36 states that chose to use Healthcare.gov rather than develop its own marketplace. The national marketplace may be especially popular in the Lone Star State because of its large number of uninsured individuals. More than five million Texans don't have health insurance — the largest number of any state. But Healthcare.gov doesn't just benefit the uninsured. "Many people are surprised to find they qualify for insurance plans through the marketplace," says Preston Gee, vice president of Strategic Marketing at CHRISTUS Health. "Even if you're currently insured, the marketplace is a great avenue to find more competitive insurance plans that may work better for your budget." EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS The less you make, the more the marketplace makes sense. Federally subsidized health insurance is not intended to compete with the type of plans most employers are able to negotiate for their workers. Most people who receive benefits through their jobs may find that switching to a health plan offered through the marketplace won't save them much — if any — money. However, lower income workers who receive fewer benefits will find the marketplace has much to offer. In Texas, a single parent with three children could make up to $32,000 a year and still qualify for free family coverage. Financial assistance is also available for families who make less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That means a family of four with a combined annual income of $94,000 can still benefit from subsidized insurance plans through Healthcare.gov. OPPORTUNIT Y AHEAD The next marketplace open enrollment period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2014, which coincides with Medicare's open enrollment. "We strongly encourage residents in our area to check out the website and see if what it offers works for their situation," Preston says. "As health insurance is now required by federal law, it's more important than ever to make sure you and your family are getting the coverage you need." Learn about the health insurance marketplace and how it works. Scan this code or visit christushealth.org/besure. Yes to Coverage, Yes to the ACA CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System fully supports the goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide more coverage options to more people at a lower cost. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospitals were integrally involved in educating the local communities about the ACA and assisting individuals in the enrollment process. Our priority is to make affordable health care coverage accessible to as many people as possible in South-Central Texas. Marketplace at the

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