The Affordable Care Act (ACA), informally known as Obamacare, aims to extend health insurance coverage to the millions of Americans that do not have employer-provided health insurance.
The Act, signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, makes health insurance affordable for families whose income is below the poverty line.
Since its inception, Obamacare has reduced financial risk for unexpected medical expenses and guaranteed basic health coverage to Americans across all fifty states.
All states are subject to certain aspects of the ACA. However, plans and coverage may differ from State to State.
If you live in Kansas and want to know if you qualify for subsidies to lower your health insurance premiums, check out this guide on the ACA and how to sign up for Obamacare in Kansas.
About Obamacare In Kansas
President Barack Obama’s health reforms were not initially greeted with enthusiasm in Kansas.
However, despite initial opposition to the healthcare law in the State, the number of enrollments in Kansas has increased annually.
In 2022, enrollment for Obamacare in Kansas hit a record high with an enrollment of 107,784 people, an increase of almost twenty thousand.
Kansans use the federal Marketplace via healthcare.gov to enroll in ACA health plans.
Obamacare is available to everyone in Kansas who does not have access to other affordable health insurance or health coverage through an employer.
Eligibility does not depend on employment status or income. You can buy Obamacare regardless of your income. You may be eligible for a premium subsidy if your household income is between 100%-400% of the federal poverty level.
Obamacare is open to non-US citizens if they are in the U.S. lawfully. Immigrants can apply for Obamacare if they meet one of the following statuses:
- Lawful permanent resident or green card holder
- Lawful temporary resident
- Non-immigrant status, including those with worker visas and student visas
- Refugee or Asylee
- Battered spouse, child, and parent
- Victim of trafficking
Under the ACA, states can expand Medicaid to include childless adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. However, Kansas is one of twelve states that has not adopted Medicaid expansion.
How To Sign Up For Obamacare In Kansas
In Kansas, the open enrollment period for individual or family coverage runs from November 1 to January 15s. If you miss open enrollment, then you need a qualifying event to enroll.
You can sign up for Obamacare on the national marketplace website or use a health insurance broker like Enhance Health.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a health plan that best suits your needs. Trying to make sense of the variety of available plans and all the fine print can feel daunting. Plus, you must decide what managed care works best for your situation.
At Enhance Health, we take the stress out of deciding on a health plan that best fits your needs. We can help you understand the finer details of each plan so you can make an informed decision when choosing health care coverage.
If you’re struggling to understand the different plans and the sign-up process, one of our trained agents will chat about your income, household size, and any specific medical needs. We will help determine which plans you qualify for.
Once you have decided on the plan that best suits your needs, we’ll help you enroll and activate your Obamacare policy. Give us a call at 877-395-2858. We’re ready to help!
Kansas Obamacare Rates
If you’re shopping in the individual health insurance market, you’ll choose metal tiers.
The tier you choose will determine how much of the premium you pay. Remember that the amounts listed below are what you pay before applying subsidies.
Bronze is the lowest-cost plan with a low monthly premium and the highest cost of care. The average lowest cost of a bronze plan in Kansas is $353 before subsidies are applied.
Silver, also known as the “benchmark” plan, has moderate monthly premiums and moderate costs when you need care. The lowest average price of a silver plan in Kansas before subsidies are applied is $471.
Gold has high monthly premiums but low costs when you need care. The average monthly premium for a gold plan in Kansas before the applied subsidies is $480.
You may be eligible for a subsidy depending on your income, family size, and household income. There is, therefore, no universal standard subsidy. Once a subsidy is applied, your monthly premium might be considerably lower.
What Do You Need To Sign Up For Obamacare In Kansas?
When you sign up for Obamacare in Kansas have the following documents on hand to ensure a smooth enrollment process:
- Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants)
- Estimated incomes for the year you’re applying for cover.
- Income information for every household member who needs health coverage.
- Medical history. Pre-existing health conditions will not affect the cost of health insurance under Obamacare.
- Employer details.
In Summary
The benefits of health coverage are well known. Obamacare protects you from expensive medical bills when emergencies arise, and the plans cover preventative services at no cost.
Still, enrolling through the national health marketplace can feel intimidating when you must follow the process independently.
Signing up for Obamacare in Kansas doesn’t need to be a stressful process though. Enhance Health has licensed agents ready to guide you through the process from start to finish.
