Obamacare is also known as the Affordable Care Act. This page gives you an overview of the rates for individual and family health insurance plans available from HealthCare.gov, the marketplace for McDowell County, West Virginia.
The health insurance rates listed below are for calendar year 2020.
Obamacare Providers, Plans and 2020 Rates for McDowell County, West Virginia
The table below shows premiums for the following profiles at various ages:
Individuals
Couples
Couples with 1, 2, or 3 children
Individuals with 1, 2, or 3 children
A child alone
Each plan links to the insurance provider's website. You can find the following:
Summary of plan benefits and costs
Plan brochure
Provider Directory where you can find out which doctors and hospitals in the Welch, WV area accept this insurance coverage as within the plan's network.
2020 Obamacare Rates, Providers, and Plans for McDowell County
There are three primary ways to reduce the cost of health plans under the Affordable Care Act in West Virginia.
You may be able to lower the cost of monthly premiums when you sign up for a private health insurance plan. Your savings will come in the form of a federal tax credit.
You may be able to reduce your out-of-pocket costs -- including copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance -- with cost-sharing subsidies paid for by insurers.
You may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid in West Virginia, or your children may be able to obtain coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Each of these forms of assistance depends on your income and family size. more...
As Obamacare enters its open enrollment period for 2018 health plans, those seeking coverage face more chaos than ever. For many Americans, affordable coverage and streamlined enrollment still seem like faraway goals.
Below are a couple of strategies to help you get your health insurance needs met.
Common Complaints from Health Insurance Applicants
Obamacare is the shorthand name for the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.
This wide-reaching law does many things, but most significantly it:
protects consumers -- for example, by requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions and preventing them from arbitrarily canceling your coverage
allows states to expand Medicaid coverage
creates marketplaces (sometimes called "exchanges") for affordable health insurance plans, and
establishes new funding for public health and prevention.
Until 2019, the law also requires most U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance or, if they don't, to pay a tax penalty. Beginning in 2019, however, the penalty goes away in all states except those that have enacted their own penalties. Currently, the list of states with penalties includes D.C., Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont.
At ObamacareByZipCode, we focus on helping you understand how Obamacare works in $YOUR_STATE, to help you get the coverage you need.
Learn More
Here are some topics that answer frequently asked questions about Obamacare.
All health plans purchased through the HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for West Virginia, must include the following benefits whether or not you have a pre-existing health condition.
These are known under the Affordable Care Act as “essential health benefits”:
Ambulatory patient services (meaning outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital)
Emergency services
Hospitalization (including surgery)
Maternity and newborn care
Mental health and substance use disorder services (including counseling and psychotherapy)
Prescription drugs
Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (for people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions, to strengthen their mental and physical skills)
Pediatric services (including oral and vision care)
Companies that offer plans through a state exchange will compete on price and quality of service in delivering these benefits.
Am I exempt from Obamacare?
Under Obamacare, most people who don't have health insurance will be required to pay a tax penalty. But you may not have to pay if you qualify for one or more of the following exemptions:
You are uninsured for fewer than three months of the year.
You prove that you can’t afford coverage -- that is, premiums for the least-expensive policy cost more than 8% of your earnings.
You don’t have to file a federal income tax return because your income is too low.
You are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
You are a member of a health care sharing ministry.
You are a member of a recognized religion that objects to health insurance.
You are in the United States illegally.
You are incarcerated.
You may be eligible for an exemption under other circumstances, as well -- for example, if you can show that obtaining coverage would subject you to serious financial hardship.
If you used the marketplace to purchase a plan last year. Most people who purchased their 2019 insurance plan from an online marketplace will be able to automatically renew their coverage for 2020. While automatic renewal sounds convenient, it has serious downsides:
If your insurer decides to cancel your current plan, you could be switched to another plan without warning. The new plan may cost you more or change your eligibility for financial assistance.
Automatic re-enrollment could mean you aren't getting the right subsidy package. That could leave you facing higher monthly premiums now or -- if you take more assistance than you're eligible for -- a big tax bill later.
You may miss out on a better deal or better coverage if you don't compare all available plans to your current plan.
While allowing yourself to be automatically re-enrolled is better than going without insurance, it's best to take advantage of open enrollment and research your options. Shop around and evaluate new plans and costs. Even if you decide to stay with the plan you have, you can use open enrollment to confirm your personal information and ensure you're getting the right amount of financial aid.
If you purchased an individual or family insurance plan outside the online marketplace. As long as the plan meets Obamacare's coverage requirements, you can keep it. Or, you may use HealthCare.gov to compare plans and replace it. If you keep your current plan, you won't be eligible for the cost-saving subsidies available for plans purchased through the exchange.
Be sure to check with your current insurance provider before canceling a health insurance policy; you may have to wait until the end of your current policy year to make a change.
If you have insurance through an employer. As long as you're happy with your plan, you can keep it. You're considered covered under Obamacare. On the other hand, if you're not satisfied with the coverage you have, you may be able to switch to an individual plan through HealthCare.gov.
Keep in mind that if you buy a plan through the exchange:
Your employer will not have to pay a portion of your monthly premiums.
You may not qualify for cost-saving subsidies, even if your income falls within the eligible range. If your employer offers coverage that is considered affordable and sufficient under the law, you won't qualify to save on premiums or out-of-pocket costs for plans purchased through HealthCare.gov.
What is the health insurance marketplace?
The health insurance marketplace (sometimes called an "exchange") is where to go to get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The marketplace for West Virginia is HealthCare.gov. You can use the marketplace to compare plans, learn whether you qualify for cost-saving subsidies, and sign up for the plan that works best for you.
Where can I get in-person help with my application?
In West Virginia, if you need help understanding your options for coverage under Obamacare or signing up for a plan, you're can get assistance from a trained “navigator” or from a health insurance broker or agent.
Navigators can explain your options, answer your questions, and help you apply for the plan you choose -- but they can't recommend a specific plan for you.
Private insurance agents or brokers can also help you understand your health care coverage options under Obamacare. Unlike government-trained navigators and counselors, they are allowed to suggest the best plan for you.
Find a helper. To find help in your area, go to Find Local Help at HealthCare.gov. There, you enter your city and state or zip code to get a list of navigators, insurance agents, and brokers near you.
Talk to a licensed broker. To directly connect with a West Virginia insurance broker who can help you evaluate insurance plans and choose a plan that's appropriate for your situation, call 800-943-6832. (We receive advertising income from the licensed brokers who offer their services through this telephone number.)
"Open enrollment" is the period of time, once a year, when you can choose or change your insurance provider or what kind of plan options you want -- for example, monthly premium and annual deductible amounts -- for the upcoming calendar year. For the dates of the next open enrollment period, see What West Virginia Residents Need to Know About Obamacare.
Choose carefully, because after you make your choices, you must usually live with them until the next open enrollment period.
"Special enrollment" is an exception to the usual enrollment rules. If you qualify for special enrollment, you can sign up during a time period outside of the open enrollment period. The circumstances under which you may qualify for special enrollment include:
What if I live in more than one state, or if I move?
Traveling from state to state isn't complicated under Obamacare, but there are a few points to keep in mind.
What if I move to a new state?
If you enroll in a marketplace health insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act and later move to a new state, you’ll need to switch to a plan offered by the exchange in that state.
Your move is considered a qualifying life event, meaning that you can sign up for new coverage as soon as you move. You don’t have to wait for the next open enrollment period.
What if I live in more than one state?
You should purchase a plan from the marketplace in the state you consider your primary residence -- where you vote, pay taxes, and so on. But snowbirds need to be sure they choose an appropriate “multistate” plan.
Some multistate plans may be restricted to a certain region – for example, a metropolitan area that straddles state boundaries. Others will be more appropriate for someone who migrates longer distances, spending, say, summers in Alaska and winters in Arizona.
Ask the insurance provider for details, and don’t sign up for a plan until you’re sure it will cover you where and when you need it.
What if I travel frequently?
Traveling shouldn't present any problem under a marketplace insurance plan. Simply sign up for a plan in the state of your primary residence. The plan will cover you in case of emergencies that happen out of state.
Learn More
For more information about Obamacare in any state, including a link to the state’s health insurance exchange, choose the state from this list.
Information & Documents to Have on Hand
Here's a checklist of information to gather before you apply for health coverage at HealthCare.gov.
Social Security numbers for you and other members of your household who will be covered by your insurance plan
Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans
Documents to help you calculate your annual income. Include all sources, such as employment, pensions, alimony, rental property, or other income. If you have a job, gather together pay stubs or W-2 forms. If you’re self-employed, have last year’s tax return handy, as well other records that can help you estimate your yearly income.
If you or anyone in your household is eligible for job-based health insurance, a completed Employer Coverage Tool for each available plan
A good idea of your budget for health insurance, so you know how much you can afford to spend each month. This will help you choose the best plan from among those offered to you.
HealthCare.gov offers an Application Checklist you can print to help you keep track of everything you'll need to sign up.
Finally, keep a list of any questions you want answered before you sign up for a health insurance plan. To get answers to your questions, or for information on signing up for a plan, see How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in West Virginia?
About This Website
Press Release: New Website Provides Local Obamacare Information
September 23, 2013
A new website, ObamacareByZipCode.com, gives people the answers they need about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). In plain English, it guides consumers to reliable, local information about their new health insurance options.
When users choose their state or enter their zip code, they will quickly find:
whether or not they’re required to get health insurance
what the available plans cover
how much coverage will cost, and
how to sign up in each state.
For consumers concerned about cost, the site shows how to determine whether they qualify for subsidies. It also explains the new rules about expanded Medicaid eligibility.
The new site was created by Albin Renauer, founder of LegalConsumer.com, and is coauthored by Renauer and legal editor and writer Shae Irving. LegalConsumer, which until now has concentrated on consumer bankruptcy, began in 2005, when Congress overhauled federal bankruptcy laws.
“When politicians tried to make it harder to file bankruptcy, I vowed to make it easier. When I read about politicians making it hard to get information about Obamacare, it got my blood boiling -- and I realized I could help folks find that information the same way I do with bankruptcy.”
Some states, says Renauer, are hiding the ball when it comes to the new options for healthcare coverage under Obamacare. Missouri, for example, has not created an insurance marketplace (exchange), forbids state officials from cooperating with the federal government, and provides no information. “It is being run like a covert operation, with no marketing or detailed information about its products or their prices,” wrote the New York Times. (Missouri Citizens Face Obstacles to Coverage, Aug. 2, 2013.)
On ObamacareByZipCode.com, all consumers need to do, says Renauer, is start with a zip code. The site will guide them to all the official local resources they need to make sure they get the maximum benefits under the law.
Another reason for expanding a bankruptcy website to cover health care reform? It’s obvious to Renauer: “Huge medical bills are a major reason that people are forced into bankruptcy.”
About LegalConsumer.com
LegalConsumer.com has helped more than a million consumers navigate the bankruptcy process by providing a free online “means test calculator,” which shows people whether or not they’re eligible to file for bankruptcy.
After receiving his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985, Albin Renauer worked for various public-interest law firms in the Bay Area and as a staff attorney for Chief Justice Rose Bird of the California Supreme Court. He spent 17 years as an editor at leading do-it-yourself legal publisher Nolo, where he helped create numerous books and software programs, including the bestselling Quicken WillMaker. He also edited Law on the Net, the first online directory of legal resources, and was the architect of Nolo's Webby Award winning website.
