2014 Aflac Benefits Guide - page 53

Page 53
Reference
Appendix and Legal Notice
s
New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage
Options And Your Health Coverage
PART A: General Information
When key parts of the health care law take effect in 2014,
there will be a new way to buy health insurance: the Health
Insurance Marketplace. To assist you as you evaluate
options for you and your family, this notice provides some
basic information about the new Marketplace and employ-
ment-based health coverage offered by your employer.
What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?
The Marketplace is designed to help you find health
insurance that meets your needs and fits your budget.
The Marketplace offers “one-stop shopping” to find and
compare private health insurance options. You may also be
eligible for a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly
premium right away. Open enrollment for health insurance
coverage through the Marketplace begins in October 2013
for coverage starting as early as January 1, 2014.
Can I Save Money on my Health Insurance Premiums
in the Marketplace?
You may qualify to save money and lower your monthly
premium, but only if your employer does not offer
coverage, or offers coverage that doesn’t meet certain
standards. The savings on your premium that you’re
eligible for depends on your household income.
Does Employer Health Coverage Affect Eligibility for
Premium Savings Through the Marketplace?
Yes. If you have an offer of health coverage from your
employer that meets certain standards, you will not be
eligible for a tax credit through the Marketplace and may
wish to enroll in your employer’s health plan. However,
you may be eligible for a tax credit that lowers your
monthly premium, or a reduction in certain cost-sharing
if your employer does not offer coverage to you at all or
does not offer coverage that meets certain standards. If
the cost of a plan from your employer that would cover
you (and not any other members of your family) is more
than 9.5% of your household income for the year, or if
the coverage your employer provides does not meet the
“minimum value” standard set by the Affordable Care Act,
you may be eligible for a tax credit.1
Note:
If you purchase a health plan through the Market-
place instead of accepting health coverage offered by
your employer, then you may lose the employer contri-
bution (if any) to the employer-offered coverage. Also, this
employer contribution – as well as your employee contri-
bution to employer-offered coverage – is often excluded
from income for Federal and State income tax purposes.
Your payments for coverage through the Marketplace are
made on an after-tax basis.
How Can I Get More Information?
For more information about the coverage offered by Aflac,
please check the summary plan description for the Aflac
Employee Health Plan or contact the Benefits Department
at 706-317-0770.
The Marketplace can help you evaluate your coverage
options, including your eligibility for coverage through the
Marketplace and its cost. Please visit
for more information, including an online application for
health insurance coverage and contact information for a
Health Insurance Marketplace in your area.
1 An employer-sponsored health plan meets the “minimum value” standard if the plan’s
share of the total allowed benefit costs covered by the plan is no less than 60% of
such costs.
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