The State Insurance Commissioner’s office has released the menu of plans available on Delaware Insurance marketplace –- and how much they’ll cost.
When the marketplace, created as part of Affordable Care Act, opens October 1, individuals will find 19 health plans and 11 dental plans available.
Health plans feature five levels of coverage ranging from the least expensive, catastrophic, to the most expensive, platinum, with varying levels of deductibles and co-pays. The majority of plans are at the gold level where 80 percent of qualifying expenses are covered.
Base monthly premiums range from just under $148 a month for a single, non-smoker buying catastrophic coverage to about $1,485 dollars for a family of four on a platinum plan.
Linda Nemes, Delaware Insurance Department’s assistant director of market regulation, says the state worked diligently on this final set of plans.
“In putting together the plans and the marketplace, we were able to have a competitive market with a good number of plans from which to choose. There is a fair range of rates from which to chose in the plans," said Nemes.
Subsidies are available depending on income level ranging from 138 to 400 of percent of federal poverty level.
"The amount of that cost-sharing deduction will be given to the person once they go into the portal (ChoosehealthDE.com) and actually do the application through the portal," said Nemes. "The individual will be told what they are eligible for at that juncture."
The marketplace also offers 11 medical and 18 dentals plans for business with under 50 employees that pay 50 percent of employee premiums. The average monthly premiums on those plans range from $223 for a single adult to $1,373 dollars for a family of four.
Three different carriers are providing health plans. They are Coventry Health Care, Coventry Health and Life, andmHighmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware. Delta Dental, Dentegra and Dominion will handle dental offerings. Coventry Health and Care Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware are offering in small business coverage.
Nemes expects both the state and federal government will be looking closely at how the plans work for those signing up as the process for 2014 begins in October.
"I'm certain as we go forward, we'll be reviewing," said Nemes. "[We'll] be looking at those aspects that are working well and analyze and see what tweaks may be needed going forward."
State officials says 90,000 Delaware residents have no health care coverage.
Those interested in signing up for coverage on the marketplace will be able to do so at the state's marketplace website starting October 1st
For more on the plans and pricing, click here.
