As House Republicans work against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act public exchange builders still assume they have to raise the curtains next week.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will wait until November to begin taking small-group exchange plan operations through the Web – but it also said groups will be able to enroll through brokers and call centers Oct. 1.
State exchange builders have been working hard to sell the idea that the exchange show is ready to open.
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The District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority posted a group photo of the first 94 assisters trained to help consumers use the DC Health Link exchange.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is posting examples of the TV spots, Web ads and billboards it's using to promote the Washington Healthplanfinder exchange.
Meanwhile, consumers are expressing confusion, fear, or both.
ComPsych, an EAP vendor, polled employees at the employers it serves and found out that 28 percent said they're very worried about the "upcoming health care changes," fear the changes will affect them significantly, and have no idea where to go for help.
Agent groups and carriers are trying to plant the idea that agents and brokers are good people to turn to for help.
The Texas Association of Health Underwriters paid to put out a national press release that gives answers to five frequently asked questions about PPACA, including, "Am I affected by the individual mandate?" and "How do I know if I qualify for a subsidy?" TAHU encourages consumers who want more information to get help with a benefits professional.
Aflac is promoting a "Health Care Reform Communications Toolkit" for employers with a national press release that mentions that "Aflac's nationwide network of agents is also available to provide employers with information" to help them understand the law.
The Consumer Federation of America has been trying to spread basic PPACA consumer protection information, such as, "There is no application fee or charge for assistance" for consumers who use the exchanges.
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Allison Bell
Allison Bell, a senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor and BenefitsPRO, previously was an associate editor at National Underwriter Life & Health. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She can be reached through X at @Think_Allison.
