Friday Variety: College Student Healthcare, An Arizona Law Bites the Dust, & Texas and California Agree on ACA

So Many Health Plans for College Students

Under the ACA, college students have many health plans to choose from.  First, if you're under 26 years old, the law allows you to stay on your parents plan if they have health insurance that offers coverage for family members.  Whether you're financially independent, single, or married, a person under 26 can stay on their parents' plan.

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Second, students can elect to purchase a health plan offered by their college.  However college students should be aware that self-insured schools -- that is, schools who who pay claims directly, instead of hiring an insurance company to do so -- do not have to meet the ACA's essential benefits requirement that otherwise mandates health plans to provide the full menu of "essential" health benefits.

Third, recent federal government regulations clarified that even if students who are eligible for student health plans at self-insured schools, they may still qualify for subsidized coverage on a state Marketplace, or exchange. Coverage purchased on the exchange would start in January, however, so college students would need to obtain coverage elsewhere for the Fall 2013 semester.

Finally, an even lower-cost option for college students may be Medicaid - the federal-state insurance program for low-income people.  Prior to the ACA, Medicaid coverage was reserved for children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. However since the passage of federal healthcare reform, some states have expanded Medicaid coverage to include low-income adults, including college students.

Arizona Cannot Cut Planned Parenthood out of its Medicaid Program

The 9th Circuit struck down struck down an Arizona law that attempted to bar Medicaid patients from receiving care from medical providers who perform elective abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. The three-judge panel ruling was unanimous.

Texas and California Agree: Long Live the ACA

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Elected officials from both Texas and California traveled throughout their respective states yesterday to tout the ACA.  Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) sang the ACA's praises to constituents in East Austin.  Doggett also took time to criticize Texas Senator Ted Cruz for his attempts to defund the law.

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Simultaneously, CA Sen. Barbara Boxer spoke to a health center in North Hollywood about the importance of spreading the word about the ACA.  She emphasized that insuring CA's 7 million uninsured residents will have a big effect on the success of the law.  "California is key." Boxer said.  "As California goes, I think so goes the Affordable Care Act."

Obamacare Swindles

Beware of scams already underway to swindle consumers into buying fake health insurance and steal their identities.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that dozens of consumers have already reported fraud since healthcare reform was upheld by the Supreme Court last summer, and predicts more prevalent abuse once open enrollment begins this October.

Be on the look-out for:

• a caller promising to send a healthcare card if the person reveals personal and financial information. 
• false enrollment websites. Note: you can only enroll in a new health plan via your state's official website OR https://www.healthcare.gov/, which can direct you to purchase insurance for any state.
• companies using Obamacare to trick customers into purchasing fake insurance.

According to the L.A. Times, those who speak limited English and those who have never had health insurance before are especially at risk.  In California, where large numbers of people who are newly eligible for insurance are Spanish-speaking, the risk is compounded. 

An added potential for fraud comes from those hired by states to help consumers navigate their new healthcare options under the exchanges. For instance, California plans to hire 20,000 enrollment counselors to tell consumers about their enrollment options and potential tax penalties. While these counselors must go through training and background checks, "fraud is inevitable," said Covered California spokeswoman Dana Howard.

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, or want to know more about how to keep your personal information secure, visit the FTC's website on medical ID theft, or call them at 877.382.4357.