Student Health Insurance & Coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Check out the Health and Human Services website to get a good understanding about the law and how it may affect you

Yes. The following reasons may be cause for an exemption: (1) Individuals who cannot afford coverage, (2) Individuals with household incomes below filing threshold, (3) Members of federally recognized Indian tribes, (4) Individuals who experience hardship, (5) Individuals who experience a short coverage gap, (6) Members of certain religious sects, (7) Members of health care sharing ministry, (8) Incarcerated individuals, and (8) Illegal immigrants.

Yes! The Law contains provisions for federal assistance to individuals (and businesses) in the form of Tax Credits. Depending on your income level and other factors, you can receive aid to help pay for health insurance.

Students who are U.S. citizens or nationals, including non-citizens who are lawfully present in the United States for the period where enrollment is sought, are able to access the marketplace. For more information, please see the Healthcare.gov page on non-citizens.

Individuals can purchase personal insurance on the health insurance marketplace online as of October 1. Citizens have until March to select a health coverage option without penalty. Certain states have elected to host their own state exchanges. Other states, like Texas, have opted to participate in the federal exchange. In either case, you can purchase personal insurance online.

It depends on the source of your health insurance. Approximately half of Americans receive insurance through their employers. Ask your employer about your specific healthcare options. If you are purchasing insurance for yourself, check out the ASU Student Health Plan, or the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace.

It depends on the source of your insurance. For those not participating in the available ASU student health insurance plan, the Affordable Care Act provides coverage options.

The law allows young adults under the age of 26 to stay on their parent’s insurance. Thus, most college students won’t need to worry about insurance until they enter the workforce and receive insurance as a work benefit.

You don’t have to do anything if you already have health insurance. The Affordable Care Act allows you to keep qualified insurance plans you already have but requires that your insurance company does an even better job providing benefits and preventive care. Remember to review your health insurance options carefully. You have until March 2014 to enroll in a health plan without penalty. Angelo State University also offers an insurance plan, which provides comprehensive coverage options for students. This insurance does meet the requirements of the ACA.

No, You will need to purchase insurance through healthcare.gov or buy the insurance offered through the university.

People under 30 and some people with limited incomes may buy what is called a “catastrophic” health plan. It protects you from very high medical costs.

A catastrophic plan generally requires you to pay ALL of your medical costs up to a certain amount, usually several thousand dollars. Costs for essential health benefits over that are generally paid by the insurance company.

These policies usually have lower premiums than a comprehensive plan, but cover you only if you need a lot of care. They basically protect you from worst-case scenarios.

Marketplace catastrophic plans cover prevention

In the Marketplace, catastrophic policies cover three primary care visits per year at no cost. They also cover free preventive benefits.

If you have a catastrophic plan in the Marketplace, you can’t get lower costs on your monthly premiums or on out-of-pocket costs based on your income.

Catastrophic plans for people with limited incomes

People 30 and over with low incomes for whom other insurance is not considered affordable or who have received a hardship exemption from the fee may be able to buy these catastrophic plans in the Marketplace.

Learn if you qualify in the Marketplace

When you fill out a Marketplace application you’ll see catastrophic plans listed as options if you qualify for them. If you don’t qualify for a catastrophic plan, you won’t see them as an option.