HealthCare.gov helps same-sex couples find coverage by adding new details
HealthCare.gov helps same-sex couples find coverage by adding new details
Website also expands information on plan benefits
Americans are now able to use HealthCare.gov to search specifically for insurance plans that include coverage for domestic partners, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.
The Health Plan Finder tool on HealthCare.gov allows consumers to compare the cost sharing and benefit choices of health plans and choose the best option to meet their needs. As a part of the plan finder update, domestic partners, including same-sex couples, can now filter plans that offer coverage for all members of their family.
“Last year, as part of our commitment to work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and be more responsive to the needs of these populations, we promised to improve the Health Plan Finder tool to give these individuals the ability to search for health plans that provide same-sex partner benefits.” said Secretary Sebelius. “Today we have delivered on that promise.”
Consumers looking for information on same-sex partner coverage can also access HealthCare.gov’s regular features, such as sorting based on enrollment, out-of-pocket expenses or other key categories. The same-sex partner filter is also available for small businesses looking for coverage for their employees.
Studies have shown that a portion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is disproportionately uninsured, including those without access to coverage through a spouse, domestic partner or employer. This new filter helps address that issue by linking same-sex couples to carriers that provide benefits for their partners.
“In the past, many same-sex couples have faced challenges searching for health coverage that suited their needs,” said Steve Larsen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. “This tool will eliminate the guesswork, providing an enhanced resource for exploring insurance coverage.”
HealthCare.gov, created by the Affordable Care Act, is the first of its kind to bring information and links to health insurance plans to one place, and to make it easy for consumers to learn about and compare their insurance options. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services worked to define and collect detailed benefits and premium rating information from insurers across the country to develop the site.
New benefit specific information
HealthCare.gov has also expanded its information on plan benefits. Previously, the website gave consumers information on a variety of benefits, including primary care office visits, specialist visits, X-ray/lab work, hospitalization, emergency room visits, prescription coverage, mental health and substance abuse coverage, and maternity coverage.
With this new update, consumers will have access to a more comprehensive list of benefits each plan offers along with the level of coverage provided. The benefits will be listed as covered, not covered, covered with limitations, or available for an additional premium. The new benefits include such things as home health services, in- and out-patient rehabilitation services, skilled nursing facilities, hospice services, dental care, infertility treatments and weight loss programs.
In addition, HealthCare.gov provides extensive information about consumer rights, tips for how to navigate the market’s complexities, and details on how the Affordable Care Act provides new protections for beneficiaries.
To access the Insurance Finder, go to the home page of www.HealthCare.gov and click on the blue tab “Find Insurance Options” at the top of the page.
More information on how the Affordable Care helps LGBT Americans have better access to stable, affordable health insurance and high quality health care, visit
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More information on how the Affordable Care helps LGBT Americans have better access to stable, affordable health insurance and high quality health care
The Affordable Care Act and LGBT Americans
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act and set into motion an effort that will help give all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, more control over their health care. Through these new reforms, LGBT Americans will have better access to stable, affordable health insurance and high quality health care.
New Coverage Options
There is some evidence suggesting that at least a portion of the LGBT community is disproportionately uninsured. This makes the new coverage options under the Affordable Care Act that much more important to them. The Affordable Care Act is making new coverage options available to Americans, including those without access to coverage through a domestic partner or employer and those with pre-existing health conditions:
- Already, qualifying Americans who are uninsured due to a pre-existing health condition have access to health insurance at an affordable rate through Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans.
- Young adults are able to remain on a parent’s health plan until they turn 26 if the plan covers dependent children and if coverage isn’t offered to them through their job.
- In 2014, the Medicaid program will be expanded to cover Americans with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This expansion will increase access to care for low-income adults.
- Also in 2014, Affordable Insurance Exchanges, new competitive insurance marketplaces, will be established where millions of Americans and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable coverage and have the same choices of insurance that members of Congress will have. Tax credits will help middle class families afford health insurance.
New Patient Protections
New benefits will make it easier for consumers to get and keep their health coverage. For example, the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from refusing coverage to, or limiting the benefits of, children (under age 19) because of a pre-existing medical condition. In 2014, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition will be illegal. And the law prohibits insurance plans from canceling an individual’s coverage just because of a mistake on his or her paperwork.
LGBT individuals have encountered discrimination in the health care system for decades, and many studies have shown that LGBT people are affected by chronic disease at a higher rate than straight people. The new law has already made significant progress toward ending some of the worst insurance company abuses and helping ensure that LGBT Americans have access to coverage when they need it most. For example, the Affordable Care Act ends lifetime dollar limits on key benefits and restricts annual dollar limits until they are ended in 2014, allowing for long-term comprehensive treatment of chronic diseases.
In addition, the federal website designed to help all consumers find the health insurance best suited to their needs makes it easy to locate health insurers that cover domestic partners. HealthCare.gov’s insurance and coverage findernow includes a “same-sex partner” filter, allowing same sex couples to eliminate plans which would not cover both people from the list of plans available in their area. Consumers looking for information on domestic partner coverage will also have access to HealthCare.gov’s regular features, such as the ability to sort based on the enrollment, a plan’s out-of-pocket costs or other categories. The same-sex partner filter is also available for small employers looking for information on the small group market.
Preventive Care for Better Health
The Affordable Care Act is taking significant steps toward improving access to preventive care. Non-grandfathered health plans now must cover recommended preventive care services without charging deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance.
In addition, the Affordable Care Act is funding preventive efforts for communities, including millions of dollars to use evidence-based interventions to address tobacco control, obesity prevention, HIV-related health disparities, better nutrition and physical activity. The Department of Health and Human Services is working with community centers serving the LGBT community to employ proven prevention strategies.
Improving Care and Fighting Disparities
The Affordable Care Act is making other investments that will help address health disparities experienced by the LGBT community. Funding is going toward building a more diverse and culturally competent health care workforce, as well as investing in community health centers to serve up to 20 million more patients. And through increased research and data collection on health disparities, policymakers will have the knowledge and tools they need to continue to address health issues in LGBT communities.
Small Business Tax Credits
The Affordable Care Act helps small business and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of providing health coverage for their employees. Americans who own a small business with fewer than 25 employees and provide health insurance may qualify for a small business tax credit of up to 35% (up to 25% for non-profits) to offset the cost of the insurance. This will make the cost to small employers of providing insurance much lower.
HIV/AIDS
Historically, people living with HIV and AIDS have had a difficult time obtaining private health insurance and have been particularly vulnerable to insurance industry abuses. Currently, fewer than one in five (17%) people living with HIV have private insurance and nearly 30% do not have any coverage. The Affordable Care Act makes it easier for people living with HIV/AIDS to get coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans. The ban on pre-existing condition exclusions will extend to all Americans in 2014, along with expanded Medicaid eligibility, the creation of Affordable Insurance Exchanges, and new tax credits for middle class families to help them afford insurance.
People with HIV/AIDS also face barriers to obtaining care from qualified providers. Consistent with the goals of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Affordable Care Act makes considerable strides in addressing these concerns and advancing equality for people living with HIV and AIDS. Investments in prevention, as well as improving care coordination, will help people living with HIV/AIDS get the treatment they need.
To learn more about the new benefits and cost savings available visit www.HealthCare.gov. A first-of-its-kind website, HealthCare.gov helps consumers make informed decisions about health care coverage by offering easy-to-understand information about which health plans are available in a given area, how much they cost, what they cover, and additional information tailored to specific needs.
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* The above information is adapted from materials provided by USA Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
** More information at USA Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
