Obamacare and Freelance Writers: A Phone-In Seminar for Authors Guild Members

Confused about the changes in healthcare? You have a lot of company. We’re going to try to clear some things up next week with a phone-in seminar led by health care policy expert Cathy Schoen, Senior Vice President at the Commonwealth Fund. The Commonwealth Fund is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving health care systems in the U.S and internationally that has been following all aspects of the Affordable Care Act closely.

Obamacare and Freelance Writers:

A Phone-In Seminar for Authors Guild Members

Cathy Schoen, Senior Vice President, Commonwealth Fund

Tuesday, Aug. 27

4 pm Eastern

Enrollment required (it’s free): Sign up here

(Note: you will be able to submit questions for Cathy to answer when you sign up)

Basics on the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare):

Key dates: Enrollment starts on October 1, with coverage to start January 1, 2014. First year enrollment will stay open until the end of March 2014.

Availability: The new insurance marketplaces, or “exchanges,” will be available in every state.

Assistance for premium costs: For those with incomes under specified thresholds, federal tax credits will be available to help cover the costs of premiums.

Choices will vary by states: These will be state-based exchanges, so choices will vary depending on where you live. The federal Health and Human Services agency has posted an interactive map that provides some useful information. It also provides a link to state exchanges and websites.

HHS basic information on the coming health insurance marketplaces.

HHS interactive state-by-state map.

Some states – including New York and California – have posted state specific information. (This will be available for all states in September.) Here are the links for New York and California:

New York Website

California Website

More Information Coming

Cathy will send some descriptive material next week. She suggests you look at the websites in advance to inform and prepare questions. Cathy will try to answer as many pre-submitted questions as possible during the call.