Bucks Blog: Shorter Forms for Coverage Under New Health Law

Banks and mortgage lenders have made strides in simplifying their disclosure forms so consumers can more easily understand the types of fees and terms they are getting.

Now, the federal health officials are trying to shrink the amount of paper necessary for people to apply for coverage under the new health insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, that are to begin operating this fall. The exchanges are part of the Affordable Care Act.

The first version of the form from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was a 21-page monster that would have taken an estimated 45 minutes to complete.

This week, after consumer advocates warned that the form was too overwhelming for most people, the government unveiled shorter versions. The form for individuals who aren’t offered insurance by their employer is now three pages, while the form for families is 12 pages.

“The shorter, just the facts applications will help empower consumers to make the health care decisions that are right for them, their families and their budget,” Anne Filipic, president of Enroll America, said in a statement. The nonprofit group aims to educate consumers about the new law and help them obtain coverage.

But Kaiser Health News questioned whether the forms were actually simpler, or just shorter. The form for families, for instance, previously had pages to list health information for six separate family members. Now, the news service says, the form just has space for two people. So if your family is larger, you’ll have to make photocopies of the page for the additional members.

The forms can be submitted beginning Oct. 1, according to the agency. Consumers can fill out the application on paper, over the phone or online. The online version should take less time, according to the centers, because it will eliminate some questions based on the applicant’s responses.

Do you plan to apply for coverage through the new marketplaces? What do you think of the new forms?

Article source: http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/shorter-forms-for-coverage-under-new-health-law/?partner=rss&emc=rss