Utah Health Insurance Marketplace Exchange

In Utah, the health insurance marketplace exchange is bifurcated in two.  The Federal government runs the individual exchange and the State government runs the small business exchange.  The Individual and Family Exchange is accessed at www.HealthCare.gov.  Select “Get Insurance” and then “Individuals & Families.”  Next choose Utah from the drop-down box.  The website won’t become active until October 1, 2013, but you can gather some general information at this point.  The individual mandate to have health insurance coverage or else pay a penalty begins January 1, 2014.

Because of the complexity in figuring out how to purchase health insurance on the exchange, and in determining whether financial subsidies apply for purchasing insurance, the Affordable Care Act created the concept of “navigators” to help with the application process.  Such assistance is particularly needed by those who haven’t had health insurance in the past.  The term “navigators” appears to have recently been changed to “marketplace assisters.”  Find help from navigators at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/.  

The Utah small business exchange is called Avenue H and is accessed at www.avenueh.com.  The website is currently active.  A small business is one with 2 to 50 employees.  Avenue H provides a unique way for an employer to provide health insurance to its employees.  Rather than the employer purchasing a group plan for the employees, Avenue H is a “defined contribution” type of plan.  The employer provides a set amount of money that the employee controls and uses to purchase their choice of health insurance.  Employees can compare plans and premiums from different providers and apply for coverage online.  See the website for more details. 

The next several weeks and months will bring many changes into the health insurance marketplace.  In addition to the websites listed above, the IRS has a web page devoted to the Affordable Care Act at www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions-Home.