The payment of the compulsory Medical Services Fee at ASU and/or the use of the university clinic do not satisfy the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Students have several options to meet ACA requirements:
Students may stay on their parents’ insurance plan until the date that they reach age 26.
Students may purchase a catastrophic health insurance plan up until age 30 that satisfies the ACA requirements.
ASU students have the option to purchase student health insurance provided by Academic HealthPlans that meets ACA requirements.
Yes. The following examples may be eligible for an exemption:
Individuals who cannot afford coverage
Individuals with household incomes below the filing threshold
Members of federally recognized American Indian tribes
Individuals who experience hardship
Individuals who experience a short coverage gap
Members of certain religious sects
Members of healthcare-sharing ministry
Incarcerated individuals
Illegal immigrants
Yes! The law contains provisions for federal assistance to individuals (and businesses) in the form of tax credits. Depending on your income level and other factors, you can receive aid to help pay for health insurance.
Students who are U.S. citizens or nationals, as well as non-citizens who are lawfully present in the U.S. for the period where enrollment is sought, are able to access the marketplace. For more information, please see the Healthcare.gov page on non-citizens.
Individuals can purchase personal insurance through the online ACA Health Insurance Marketplace as of Oct. 1. Citizens have until March to select a health coverage option without penalty. Certain states have elected to host their own state exchanges. Other states, like Texas, have opted to participate in the federal exchange. In either case, you can purchase personal insurance online.
It depends on the source of your health insurance. Approximately half of Americans receive insurance through their employers. Ask your employer about your specific healthcare options. If you are purchasing insurance for yourself, check out the ASU Student Health Plan or the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace.
It depends on the source of your insurance. For those not participating in the available ASU Student Health Plan, the ACA provides coverage options.
The law allows young adults under the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ insurance. Thus, most college students won’t need to worry about insurance until they enter the workforce and receive insurance as a work benefit.
You don’t have to do anything if you already have health insurance. The ACA allows you to keep qualified insurance plans you already have, but requires that your insurance company does an even better job providing benefits and preventive care. Remember to review your health insurance options carefully. You have until March to enroll in a health plan without penalty.
Angelo State University also offers an insurance plan, which provides comprehensive coverage options for students. This insurance does meet the requirements of the ACA.
No. You will need to purchase insurance through healthcare.gov or buy the insurance offered through the university.
People under 30 and some people with limited incomes may buy what is called a “catastrophic” health plan. It protects you from very high medical costs.
A catastrophic plan generally requires you to pay all of your medical costs up to a certain amount, usually several thousand dollars. Costs for essential health benefits over that are generally paid by the insurance company.
These policies usually have lower premiums than a comprehensive plan, but cover you only if you need a lot of care. They basically protect you from worst-case scenarios.
Marketplace catastrophic plans cover prevention
In the ACA Healthcare Marketplace, catastrophic policies cover three primary care visits per year at no cost. They also cover free preventive benefits.
Catastrophic plans for people with limited incomes
People 30 and over with low incomes for whom other insurance is not considered affordable or who have received a hardship exemption from the fee may be able to buy these catastrophic plans in the ACA Marketplace.
Learn if you qualify in the Marketplace
When you fill out an ACA Marketplace application, you’ll see catastrophic plans listed as options if you qualify for them. If you don’t qualify for a catastrophic plan, you won’t see them listed as an option.
