Health Insurance as a UCC AmeriCorps Member
As a 1700hr AmeriCorps member, Utah Conservation Corps provides you a health insurance coverage benefit. UCC directs you to the Healthcare.gov Marketplace to select an individual health care plan to meet your needs. If you qualify (which you should based on an AmeriCorps living allowance income), government subsidies will significantly reduce your health insurance premiums and UCC will cover most or all of the premium cost. Additionally, you can continue in these plans after AmeriCorps.
To avoid government penalties, you must carry health insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements. The following option is offered to you as an UCC AmeriCorps member. You may also choose to be covered through an individual, parent, or partner’s plan at your own expense.
OPTION DETAILS
Select and enroll in a medical and/or dental plan through The Marketplace at Healthcare.gov.
It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to complete the application and enrollment into a plan through Healthcare.gov. It is also YOUR RESPONSIBILITIY to pay the monthly health insurance premium payments and out of pocket medical coverage expenses.
Utah Conservation Corps will REIMBURSE 1700hr AmeriCorps members up to $100 per month towards medical & dental insurance premiums for the plan of their choice (min. Bronze level). You must enroll via the instructions included in this packet to receive the monthly reimbursement. The reimbursement is added to your bi-monthly living allowance payments.
You have 60 days from your official start date as an AmeriCorps member to enroll.
Full year, full-time (1700hr) AmeriCorps members MUST complete the form on page 2 to opt in or out of this opportunity.
Less than full year, full-time members may utilize this option and RBI Benefit service but are not eligible to receive reimbursements from UCC on their monthly premiums.
RBI Benefits of Utah is an insurance agency equipped to walk you through plan selection and enrollment as an AmeriCorps member. They will help you select the right health plan for you, plus additional coverage at your own expense (i.e. vision, critical illness insurance, income protection insurance and accident insurance).
To Enroll:
1. Complete the application on healthcare.gov following the enclosed instructions on pg 4
2. Once the application is submitted, email Vanessa Vernon at RBI Benefits to set up a time to receive help enrolling in a plan. Vanessa is also available for questions on submitting the application
3. Complete the Election Form on page 3 of this document and turn in to the Utah Conservation Corps office.
**Insurance plans start on the 1st of the month. You must enroll into your plan with Vanessa by the 15th of the previous month in order for the plan to be effective the 1st of the next month. Get started right away!
Contact: Vanessa Vernon, RBI Benefits AmeriCorps Specialist
801-298-0399, Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Be sure to identify yourself as a Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps member when working with Vanessa!
For questions after hours, contact:
Shane Skeen 801-791-0211 or Blake Izatt 801-808-5650
Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Health Insurance Election Form
I acknowledge that Utah Conservation Corps has offered me health insurance coverage through RBI Benefits for the duration of my AmeriCorps Term of Service. I understand that if I opt out of the coverage offered by Utah Conservation Corps that I must carry health insurance of my choice at my own expense. I understand that if I opt in for an insurance plan through RBI Benefits that I am responsible for monthly premium payments and that Utah Conservation Corps will reimburse me for premium expenses after government subsidies are applied up to $100.00 per month.
I have chosen the following health care coverage option:
____ I will enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan through RBI Benefits of Utah and will be reimbursed by Utah Conservation Corps up to $100 per month while I am actively serving my AmeriCorps term.
____ I am opting out of this opportunity and have insurance coverage through the following source: ______
Member Name (printed): ______
Member Signature: ______
Date: ______
Healthcare.gov Application Instructions
Step 1 Create an Account
Log onto www.healthcare.gov.There, you will first create an account by clicking "Sign In." Next to “Don’t have an account?” click “Create one now.” When that section is completed it will send you an email. A link from that email will need to be accessed to verify your account.
Go back to www.healthcare.gov and log in with your new username and password to begin your application.Note: Write down your username and password. If you get locked out, it can be a pain to reset. Oftentimes it results in a call to healthcare.gov. Also, your password resets after a year.
Step 2 Start Your Application
Click on,"Start a New Application or Update an Existing one.” On the next screen, select your state and click “Apply.”
It will then ask you to agree a privacy notice and will ask a series of questions about yourself such as your address, email, phone, social security number, etc. If you don’t supply your social now or enter anything incorrectly you will have to provide supporting information later on (huge hassle).
During this step it will ask you if anyone is or will be helping you with this application. Please enter Robert Blake Izatt as the agent name (Vanessa Vernon will be your agent but RBI Benefits is registered under Robert’s name) NPN: 2883663. This will ensure RBI Benefits is your agent with whatever policy you select and can help you with any future renewals, claims issues, etc. There is no extra cost to use Vanessa and RBI Benefits as an agent, rather she is an excellent benefit and resource for you!
Step 3 Income Verification
The next section of the application is the income verification portion which determines if you qualify for a subsidy and/or cost sharing. This is a projection for the tax year in which you are applying for coverage. For example, if it’s March 2017, enter the gross income you think you will make as it will appear on your 2017 tax return. All members on the application with an income must be included in the total income entered.
It is recommended that you enter your income as a yearly amount (not monthly). This will ensure a more accurate projection of your annual income, especially if your AmeriCorps term is less than 12 months.
Step 4 Additional Information
A sequence of questions will be asked for each family member applying for coverage. These are all optional questions which determine if you are eligible for a special enrollment. You will only need to mark yes on questions that apply to you. Examples include, “Have you lost coverage within the last 60 days? Have you moved in the last 60 days?” It will then ask for the date that you lost coverage. This part is very important. If you are in doubt about any part of it, please give Vanessa Vernon a call. The last question regarding previous coverage only applies if you had coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) in previous years.
Step 5 Submit Your Application
Once your application is complete, click on view eligibility results and a PDF document will download. Save this document and email them to Vanessa. Its best to stop here and set a time with Vanessa to make sure everything is correct and choose a health plan. In your email, please tell Vanessa your availability so you can arrange a time with her to finish your enrollment.
Vanessa can meet with you via Go-To-Meeting, an online webinar type session which allows us to share computer screens. This is preferred so you can both view plan options. You can also meet over the phone or in person.
Step 6 Finalize Plan Selection & Make Your First Month’s Payment
It’s best if you can make payment right away to avoid delay in getting your ID cards and avoid disruption in coverage. If the system does not allow you to pay online, it is best to make your payment directly with your insurance company. Once a plan is chosen, Vanessa can give you the best phone number to call.
Step 7 Proof of Income
It is common that you will be asked to provide proof of income within 3 months of your enrollment date. Be prepared to provide pay stubs in a timely manner.
You will be paid twice per month once you start your position with Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps. You can contact Lindsay Thalacker, for instructions on how to access a UCC paystub.