MIAMI – It's been decades in the making, a sweeping overhaul of how health care and health care coverage are handled in the U.S. While there have been some glitches in the rollout date, change is still coming.
"What I know if you're already insured you don't have to do anything. If you don't have insurance, I think you have to go to a site or call somebody, something dot gov," said Myra Weaver. "I guess I really don't understand a lot of the details."
SPECIAL SECTION: Health care reform
Once the system is up and running, Chuck Vodika and his team of health care experts and InSource Insurance will be ready, willing, and able to guide individuals and groups through the process.
"The way the system works is if you're an individual, you will go online and you will register as an individual with a user name and password, and you are not to share that user name and password with anybody, including the profession you're going to speak to about your health insurance," said Vodika.
With you present, or by remotely controlling your computer, the health care insurance navigator will work through the pages and fill out the forms for you to get quotes.
"Once quotes are obtained, the professional will help you navigate, which is hence the navigator word, they'll help you navigate through the system and choose the plan best for you and set it up for you," said Vodika.
On a group basis, the employer registers, creates a private user name and password, then works with a navigator, fill out the paperwork including a census of all the employees, then the employer can get quotes in what is called the "shop" marketplace and pick just one plan.
"Then, each employee of yours has to register just as the individual did and go through the same process that the individual did, and the reason for that is to see if they're any tax breaks that they're eligible for," said Vodika.
Even if things are up and running next week, Vodicka suggested sitting back for a few more weeks and letting things settle out.
Coverage doesn't take effect until Jan. 1, so there's plenty of time left to get educated and get help.