The Associated Press reported Tuesday on the 21-page draft application that Americans would use to access the health law’s subsidized insurance coverage. What they didn’t include though, was the actual document—which we’ve got right here.
...bogus context-free hit by AP.
AP Exclusive: Applying for health care not easy
<...>
Some fear that consumers will be overwhelmed and give up. Administration officials say the application form is being refined.
Still, the idea that picking a health insurance plan could be as simple as shopping on the Internet is starting to look like wishful thinking.
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-applying-health-care-not-easy-171510320.html
Pure fearmongering nonsense.
The Single Streamlined Application Under the Affordable Care Act: Key Elements of the Proposed Application and Current Medicaid and CHIP Applications
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes a number of changes to simplify the Medicaid enrollment process. As part of these changes, beginning in 2014 all states will be required to use a single, streamlined application provided by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services unless they receive approval to use an alternative application. A draft version of the streamlined application was released for public comment on January 28, 2013.
This analysis provides an overview of key elements of the proposed paper-based streamlined application and 85 current printable Medicaid and CHIP applications, with a focus on several areas, including: availability of application assistance; language accessibility; verification of income; verification of citizenship and immigration status and other messages for immigrant families; medical support requirements; and disability screening questions. While many individuals applying for health coverage in 2014 will likely use the online version of the streamlined application, it is difficult to analyze given its dynamic nature. However, review of these key elements on the paper-based application is largely applicable to the online version because it includes similar data requirements and language as the online version.
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/8409.cfm
<...>
CONCLUSION
As the streamlined application for 2014 is finalized, it will be important to achieve a balance that minimizes burdens on applicants while still collecting sufficient information to make quick and accurate determinations of eligibility. This analysis highlights wide variation in the language and approaches used to collect information on 85 current Medicaid and CHIP applications and HHS’ proposed streamlined paper application. It shows that some states have already achieved significant progress in streamlining their applications and addressing known enrollment barriers, but notes inconsistencies in these efforts across states and application types. In particular, many applications still require more extensive information and documentation than will be allowed in 2014, such as income documentation and questions related to medical support requirements. As such, implementation of the streamlined application will result in reduced requirements for families in many states. However, at the same time, the proposed application does not utilize some consumer-focused features and language designed to address enrollment barriers that have already been developed in some states, such as providing information on how to obtain language assistance, providing messages to encourage enrollment among immigrant families, and including language to help applicants identify conditions that might be considered a disability.
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/8409.pdfThe draft application was released by CMS:
Supporting Statement for Data Collection to Support Eligibility Determinations for Insurance Affordability Programs and Enrollment through Affordable Insurance Exchanges, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Agencies
http://www.medicaid.gov/State-Resource-Center/Events-and-Announcements/Downloads/508CMS-10440_Supporting_Statement_Part_A.pdf
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRA-Listing-Items/CMS-10440.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
