• Home Page
  • Consumer Law Topics
    • Bankruptcy
    • Unemployment Benefits
    • Overtime & Mimimum Wage Law
    • Student Loans
    • Obamacare (Health Insurance)
    • Medicare Advantage 2017
    • Living Wills / DPAs
    • Inheritance Law
    • Democracy
    • Lawyers
  • All Topics By Region
  1. Home
  2. All Topics By Region
  3. Montana
  4. Monday, April 23rd, 2018

Montana Obamacare

Montana

 
Billings, MT
  1. Home
  2. Montana Obamacare
  1. US
  2. Montana
  3. Yellowstone County
    • Montana Counties (sorted by population)
    • Yellowstone County
    • Yellowstone County (Billings) [MT]
    • Missoula County (Missoula) [MT]
    • Flathead County (Kalispell) [MT]
    • Gallatin County (Bozeman) [MT]
    • Cascade County (Great Falls) [MT]
    • Lewis and Clark County (Helena) [MT]
    • Ravalli County (Hamilton) [MT]
    • Silver Bow County (Butte) [MT]
    • Lake County (Polson) [MT]
    • Lincoln County (Libby) [MT]
    • Hill County (Havre) [MT]
    • Park County (Livingston) [MT]
    • Glacier County (Cut Bank) [MT]
    • Big Horn County (Hardin) [MT]
    • Custer County (Miles City) [MT]
    • Fergus County (Lewistown) [MT]
    • Sanders County (Thompson Falls) [MT]
    • Jefferson County (Boulder) [MT]
    • Roosevelt County (Wolf Point) [MT]
    • Carbon County (Red Lodge) [MT]
    • Richland County (Sidney) [MT]
    • Deer Lodge County (Anaconda) [MT]
    • Beaverhead County (Dillon) [MT]
    • Rosebud County (Forsyth) [MT]
    • Stillwater County (Columbus) [MT]
    • Dawson County (Glendive) [MT]
    • Madison County (Virginia City) [MT]
    • Valley County (Glasgow) [MT]
    • Powell County (Deer Lodge) [MT]
    • Blaine County (Chinook) [MT]
    • Pondera County (Conrad) [MT]
    • Teton County (Choteau) [MT]
    • Chouteau County (Fort Benton) [MT]
    • Broadwater County (Townsend) [MT]
    • Toole County (Shelby) [MT]
    • Musselshell County (Roundup) [MT]
    • Phillips County (Malta) [MT]
    • Mineral County (Superior) [MT]
    • Sweet Grass County (Big Timber) [MT]
    • Sheridan County (Plentywood) [MT]
    • Granite County (Philipsburg) [MT]
    • Fallon County (Baker) [MT]
    • Liberty County (Chester) [MT]
    • Wheatland County (Harlowton) [MT]
    • Judith Basin County (Stanford) [MT]
    • Meagher County (White Sulphur Springs) [MT]
    • Daniels County (Scobey) [MT]
    • Powder River County (Broadus) [MT]
    • McCone County (Circle) [MT]
    • Garfield County (Jordan) [MT]
    • Prairie County (Terry) [MT]
    • Carter County (Ekalaka) [MT]
    • Wibaux County (Wibaux) [MT]
    • Golden Valley County (Ryegate) [MT]
    • Treasure County (Hysham) [MT]
    • Petroleum County (Winnett) [MT]
  4. Billings

  • Montana Obamacare Home
  • MT Topics
  • MT Resources
  • 2018 Obamacare Rates for Billings, MT
  1. Home
  2. Obamacare
  3. Montana Obamacare
  4. Yellowstone County
  5. Billings, MT
  6. 59102


Help

  • What is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?
  • Is Obamacare different from the Affordable Care Act?
  • What do Obamacare health care plans cover?
  • Am I exempt from Obamacare?
  • What if I already have health insurance?
  • What is the health insurance marketplace?
  • Where can I get in-person help with my application?
  • What does "open enrollment" mean?
  • What if I live in more than one state, or if I move?
  • Information & Documents to Have on Hand
  • About This Website

Sponsored Links

ADVERTISEMENT - LegalConsumer.com does not review or endorse advertisers or their products.

General Resources for this Topic

Resources for ""

What is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

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
  • requires most U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance or, if they don't, to pay a tax penalty
  • 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.

As a result of the law, new health plans will be available for individuals, families, and small businesses. You can compare plans and providers, and choose the coverage that’s best for you.

At ObamacareByZipCode, we focus on helping you understand how Obamacare works in Montana, to help you get the coverage you need.

Learn More

Here are some topics that answer frequently asked questions about Obamacare.

Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Montana?

How Much Does Obamacare Cost?

How Can I Save Money on Obamacare?

How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Montana?

 

Is Obamacare different from the Affordable Care Act?

They are identical. Obamacare is just a nickname for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

Learn More

Here are some articles that answer frequently asked questions about Obamacare and the ACA.

What Is Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Montana?

How Much Does Obamacare Cost?

How Can I Save Money on Obamacare?

How Do I Sign Up for Obamacare in Montana?

What do Obamacare health care plans cover?

All health plans purchased through the HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Montana, must include the following benefits. These are known under Obamacare as “essential health benefits”:

  1. Ambulatory patient services (meaning outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital)
  2. Emergency services
  3. Hospitalization (including surgery)
  4. Maternity and newborn care
  5. Mental health and substance use disorder services (including counseling and psychotherapy)
  6. Prescription drugs
  7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (for people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions, to strengthen their mental and physical skills)
  8. Lab services
  9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
  10. 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 qualify for Medicaid under the new income limits established by the Affordable Care Act but, because Montana has not expanded Medicaid eligibility, you cannot take advantage of these rules.
  • 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.

To learn more, see Do I Have to Get Obamacare in Montana?

What if I already have health insurance?

If you used the marketplace to purchase a plan last year. Most people who purchased their 2016 insurance plan from an online marketplace will be able to automatically renew their coverage for 2017. 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 Montana 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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.)

For more information, see How To Sign Up for Obamacare in Montana.

What does "open enrollment" mean?

"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 Montana 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:

  • moving to a new state
  • having a baby or adopting a child
  • getting married or divorced
  • leaving a job and losing your insurance
  • losing coverage under your parents’ plan
  • losing other types of health insurance
  • gaining status as a member of an Indian tribe
  • becoming an American citizen, or
  • getting out of prison.

Related Resources

Open Enrollment Definition Under ObamaCare - HealthCare.Gov
/obamacare/resource.php?ResourceID=24&ST=MT

What Key Dates Do I Need to Know? - HealthCare.gov
/obamacare/resource.php?ResourceID=25&ST=MT

A list of dates you need to keep track of in signing up for ObamaCare

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 Montana?

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.

About Albin Renauer

Albin Renauer is an independent web and database developer and Webby Award judge. He created LegalConsumer.com as an online companion to his book, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, to help people 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.

About Shae Irving

Shae Irving has been a legal editor and writer since 1994, when she joined Nolo, specializing in estate planning, health care, and family law issues. For almost a decade, she was the managing editor of Nolo’s bestselling Quicken WillMaker software. Her books include Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for California and Prenuptial Agreements: How to Write a Fair and Lasting Contract. Shae graduated from Berkeley Law and briefly practiced at a large San Francisco law firm before becoming an editor and author.

For More Information

Contact Albin Renauer.

Related Resources

Missouri Citizens Face Obstacles to Coverage
/obamacare/resource.php?ResourceID=310&ST=MT

Looking for the new health insurance marketplace, set to open in Missouri in two months, is like searching for a unicorn.

ADVERTISEMENT - LegalConsumer.com does not review or endorse advertisers or their products.

Largest Montana Cities

60 Largest Montana Cities

  1. Billings - 107,934
  2. Missoula - 82,600
  3. Great Falls - 69,243
  4. Helena - 54,095
  5. Bozeman - 49,560
  6. Kalispell - 39,230
  7. Butte-Silver Bow - 33,525
  8. Butte - 32,996
  9. Belgrade - 23,200
  10. Hamilton - 19,785
  11. Laurel - 15,847
  12. Lolo - 14,611
  13. Stevensville - 14,158
  14. Whitefish - 12,996
  15. Livingston - 12,325
  1. Havre - 12,004
  2. Miles City - 10,544
  3. Libby - 9,890
  4. Anaconda-Deer Lodge - 9,298
  5. Lewistown - 9,097
  6. Columbia Falls - 8,895
  7. Glendive - 8,016
  8. Dillon - 7,880
  9. Boulder - 7,876
  10. Anaconda - 7,734
  11. Evergreen - 7,616
  12. Lockwood - 6,797
  13. Sidney - 6,697
  14. Eureka - 6,221
  1. - 0
  1. - 0

50 States

50 State Obamacare Info

  • Alabama Obamacare
  • Alaska Obamacare
  • Arizona Obamacare
  • Arkansas Obamacare
  • California Obamacare
  • Colorado Obamacare
  • Connecticut Obamacare
  • Delaware Obamacare
  • District of Columbia Obamacare
  • Florida Obamacare
  • Georgia Obamacare
  • Hawaii Obamacare
  • Idaho Obamacare
  • Illinois Obamacare
  • Indiana Obamacare
  • Iowa Obamacare
  • Kansas Obamacare
  • Kentucky Obamacare
  • Louisiana Obamacare
  • Maine Obamacare
  • Maryland Obamacare
  • Massachusetts Obamacare
  • Michigan Obamacare
  • Minnesota Obamacare
  • Mississippi Obamacare
  • Missouri Obamacare
  • Montana Obamacare
  • Nebraska Obamacare
  • Nevada Obamacare
  • New Hampshire Obamacare
  • New Jersey Obamacare
  • New Mexico Obamacare
  • New York Obamacare
  • North Carolina Obamacare
  • North Dakota Obamacare
  • Ohio Obamacare
  • Oklahoma Obamacare
  • Oregon Obamacare
  • Pennsylvania Obamacare
  • Rhode Island Obamacare
  • South Carolina Obamacare
  • South Dakota Obamacare
  • Tennessee Obamacare
  • Texas Obamacare
  • Utah Obamacare
  • Vermont Obamacare
  • Virginia Obamacare
  • Washington Obamacare
  • West Virginia Obamacare
  • Wisconsin Obamacare
  • Wyoming Obamacare
Site Map  |  Back to Top 

LegalConsumer.com/obamacare
ObamacareByZipCode.com

ObamacareIsNotDead.com

Obamacare Info For Your Zip Code
Billings, Montana 59102

  • LOCAL OBAMACARE INFO

  • How to Sign Up for Obamacare in Billings, Montana
  • What Montana Residents Need to Know About Obamacare
  • Who Needs Obamacare in Yellowstone County
  • Get Help Finding a Health Insurance Plan in Yellowstone County
  • How an Insurance Agent or Broker Can Help You Sign Up for Obamacare in Montana
  • Montana Obamacare Home Page
  • OBAMACARE FORMS

  • Applying for Obamacare With a Paper Application
  •  

  • OBAMACARE RATES

  • How Much Does Obamacare Cost in Montana?
  • OBAMACARE FINANCIAL AID

  • Can I Get Medicaid in Montana?
  • Ways to Save Money on Obamacare in Montana
  • USING OBAMACARE

  • Understanding Obamacare's Preventive Health Care Benefits
  • When Must You Report Life Changes to the Montana Health Insurance Exchange?
  • OBAMACARE PROBLEMS

  • Get Help Finding a Health Insurance Plan in Yellowstone County
  • What to Do If You're Frustrated or Fed Up With Applying for Montana Obamacare Through HealthCare.gov
  • Avoiding Obamacare Scams in Montana
  • How an Insurance Agent or Broker Can Help You Sign Up for Obamacare in Montana
  • LIFE SITUATIONS

  • Obamacare for Self-Employed Montana Residents
  • How Obamacare Affects Unemployed Montana Residents
  • Obamacare and Students
  • Obamacare and Seniors
  • What Domestic Partners Need to Know About Applying for Obamacare
  • OBAMACARE NEWS

  • Obamacare and Taxes: What You Need to Know Before You File in Montana
  • How Montana Residents Were Affected by the Supreme Court’s Ruling in King v. Burwell
  • ABOUT US

  • About LegalConsumer.com
  • About Obamacare By ZipCode
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us
  • FOLLOW US



  • Better Business Bureau -- A+ Rating
  • LegalConsumer.com
  • |
  • Obamacare
  • |
  • Montana Obamacare
  • |
  • Free Obamacare Forms
  • |
  • How to Get Financial Help in Montana
  • |
  • Billings, MT Obamacare Rates

Obamacare Website content by Albin Renauer and Shae Irving
ObamacareByZIpCode.com and ObamaCareIsNotDead.com are domains used by LegalConsumer.com
Users of this site agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

Home Page

Learn what to do.
Get help if you need it.
Get on with your life.


Better Business Bureau -- A+ Rating

 

BANKRUPTCY

UNEMPLOYMENT

WAGE & HOUR

INHERITANCE LAW

FIND A LAWYER

 

OBAMACARE

HEALTHCARE

STUDENT LOANS

DEMOCRACY

Browse All Topics By Region

ABOUT

Authors

Contact Us

Terms of Service

Security & Privacy

Site Map



  • © RelationalVision, LLC.
  • |
  • Disclaimer - Legal information is not legal advice