In the News

By William E. Gibson, Washington Bureau

Starting this week, Florida consumers can "chat" with government agents over the Internet, make inquiries 24 hours a day by telephone or tap into an updated federal website to prepare for a massive health-insurance enrollment this fall.

Federal officials rolled out a consumer outreach campaign on Monday, promising information on how to enroll in plans in Florida and other states. The information is critical to some 3.7 million Floridians without health insurance, most of whom will be required to obtain coverage when the Affordable Care Act takes full effect on Jan. 1.

But initial efforts on Monday to query the website – HealthCare.gov -- and the telephone help line – 1-800-318-2596 – provided only generic information about requirements, benefits and enrollment. They did not produce customized information for individuals or spell out insurance plans available in the state.

In one web chat, an "agent" repeated standard phrasing from the website but was unable to point to listings of insurance plans, saying: "Unfortunately, I cannot assist in navigating through the site. I apologize."

A telephone inquiry produced a series of automated questions, eventually leading to an individual helper who read excerpts from the site but could not identify plans in Florida.

Federal officials nevertheless touted the live web chats, phone line and refurbished website as an important source of preliminary information. More information will become available closer to October, when consumers can compare plans and prices and enroll online.

"We've actually had hundreds of callers and chatters already today," said Julie Bataille, director of communications for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, individuals and families not covered by an employer, Medicaid or Medicare may be eligible for tax credits to help them purchase health insurance through an online "exchange." Individuals making up to $46,000, and a family of four making up to $94,200, can apply for federal help, which declines as income rises.

On the federal website, consumers can get basic information about how to establish an account, request updates and prepare for enrollment beginning Oct. 1 for coverage that starts in January. Everyone is required to have health insurance next year or face a tax penalty.

In Florida, the federal website will turn into a marketplace "exchange" in October because state officials turned away a federal grant and declined to establish their own state-run exchange. Florida legislators also rejected $52 billion over 10 years to expand Medicaid eligibility for about 1 million individuals and families earning up to 138 percent of poverty.

The feds promise lots of helpers, including hundreds of "navigators" who will be hired next month to show people how to fill out forms.

Enroll America, a non-profit group, will muster thousands of volunteers nationwide this summer to knock on doors and pass out information at community events, farmers markets and churches. Health clinics, where many of the uninsured go for doctor care, also will help enroll patients.

And House Democrats are gearing up to dispense information on their websites while planning workshops and town hall meetings.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston plans to spread the word through social media via Facebook@RepDWS and on Twitter and Instagram @RepDWStweets.

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel of Boca Raton will provide a toolkit to constituents while meeting with businesses, hospitals and doctors to talk about enrollment.

And U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando will stress the availability of tax credits and other new benefits for those of modest means.

"When fully phased in," Grayson said, "families will pay no more than 11 percent of their income for health insurance, saving families hundreds of dollars each year."