Starting in 2014, “Obamacare” will require most U.S. citizens to enroll in a health plan or pay a penalty.<\/p>\n
This means millions of patients will start shopping for a health plan this fall…and enter the health care system as insured next year.<\/p>\n
This will stress the short supply of primary care providers…and help open the door for pharmacists to become officially recognized as providers and take on more roles.<\/p>\n
Many community pharmacies will help patients navigate the system…similar to the way they did with Medicare Part D drug plans.<\/p>\n
The Health Insurance Marketplace<\/span> or “exchange” will open on October 1 to help people compare and purchase plans.<\/p>\n Plans will offer a comprehensive set of benefits…but copays will vary. Plans with lower premiums will have higher copays.<\/p>\n There will also be less expensive catastrophic coverage plans for people under 30…to encourage younger and healthier folks to sign up.<\/p>\n Advise patients to check a plan’s pharmacy benefit to make sure their drugs will be covered.<\/p>\n Federal subsidies<\/span> will help reduce costs for some patients.<\/p>\n People making up to four times the federal poverty level can apply for financial assistance…very low-income people will be eligible for Medicaid.<\/p>\n