(Money Magazine)
Here's what the course of the Affordable Care Act looks like now.
Some can still get onboard
Even though the enrollment window has closed, you can add or change an individual plan in some circumstances, such as if you lose your job, move, divorce, or have a baby. Otherwise, you're locked out until enrollment reopens on Nov. 15.
If you do get the ax or retire early, don't automatically elect to stay on your company plan through COBRA.
Related: Obamacare: One more reason to quit your job
Check out individual policies on healthcare.gov and sites such as ehealthinsurance.com.
Even though individual plans had to beef up coverage under Obamacare, the least expensive ones still cost less than company plans, and they may offer you adequate protection. Make sure that your drugs and doctors are included.
Mixed forecast for premiums
A last-minute surge of enrollees pushed total sign-ups above the Congressional Budget Office projection of 7 million. But what really matters to your bill next year is how many people signed up in your state and how healthy they are.
Each insurer based initial premiums in part on its estimate of the health of new customers, and if they're sicker than expected, premiums may rise by more than the health care inflation rate.
The law includes money to offset losses if one insurer enrolls a particularly sick group, but not if they all do.
Other factors will keep a lid on premium hikes, including competition for new bodies, predicts John Holahan of the Urban Institute.
Related: Get married, save on car insurance
The CBO expects another 7 million people will buy through the exchanges next year, as the penalty for going without insurance rises, and new enrollees are expected to be healthier than this year's.
Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation predicts premiums will rise 7% to 10% in states that saw high participation, such as California and Washington. States with low enrollment and few insurers may see higher jumps, he says.
You also may face a big increase if your plan this year severely restricted your choice of doctors and hospitals. The feds plan to take a close look at whether networks are broad enough.
You could end up with more options, but at a price.
First Published: May 22, 2014: 7:08 AM ET
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