Recent Immigration Related HealthCare.gov Updates

March 14, 2014

Updates

• HealthCare.gov has made several updates to improve the application and enrollment process for non-citizens. This document outlines some of the improvements made and provides tips for consumers applying for coverage.

1. Additional Documents to Verify Identity

2. Yellow Screen – Data Sources Down

3. Consumers Who Only Have an Alien Number or I-94 Number

4. New Application Question: “When did the consumer receive his or her current immigration status?”

5. Consumers under 100% FPL Eligibility for Advance Payments of Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR)

1. Additional Documents to Verify Identity

• To submit an application online, consumers must create an account and verify their identity.

If a consumer’s identity cannot be verified electronically or with the Experian Help Desk, they are asked to provide information proving their identity to the Marketplace.

The list of documents that can be submitted to prove identity is newly expanded – the list now includes additional immigration documents and certain secure documents issued by foreign governments.

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1. Additional Documents to Verify Identity

• This list of possible documents that can be submitted will appear in the notice to the consumer and on their “My Account” on HealthCare.gov. It now includes: – U.S. passport or U.S. passport card

– Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)

– Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)

– Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)

– Foreign passport, or identification card issued by a foreign embassy or consulate that contains a photograph

1. Additional Documents to Verify Identity

2. Yellow Screen – Data Sources Down

• Some consumers have reported receiving a ‘yellow screen’.

This screen appears at the end of the application, just before the consumer would have submitted their application.

Sometimes this is caused by a verificationsystem error.

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2. Yellow Screen – Data Sources Down

• When this occurs, all consumer information is saved and the consumer is asked to return.

• Some have seen this screen repeatedly, and have had difficulty submitting an application for coverage.

• Recent fixes put in place should greatly reduce the instances of the yellow screen.

• Consumers who have experienced difficulty should go back into their application and try to submit it again.

3. Consumers who only have an Alien Number or I-94 Number

• Consumers attesting to an eligible immigration status are asked to select a document supporting their current status, and provide information about that document.

Some consumers do not have all of the information needed to complete this section, and may only have an Alien Number or I-94 Number.

These consumers should instead follow the on-screen instructions to select “other documents or status types”, then “other” to enter their information.

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3. Consumers who only have an Alien Number or I-94 Number

4. New Application Question – Grant Date

• Some non-citizens are subject to a 5 year waiting period, and are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP: – Based on immigration status and the date the consumer was granted

their status.

– Verified by DHS.

Applicants who have not met the 5 year waiting period and are otherwise eligible to enroll in a QHP, can receive APTC or CSR, even if under 100% FPL.

If DHS cannot provide all of the information needed, the consumer will be asked to provide the date they were granted their status.

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4. New Application Question – Grant Date

5. Consumers Under 100%FPL Eligibility for APTC/CSR

• Consumers with incomes under 100%FPL who are lawfully present but not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP based on immigration status may be eligible for APTC/CSR.

Some consumers in this category may have been previously determined eligible for a QHP, but not APTC/CSR.

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5. Consumers Under 100%FPL Eligibility for APTC/CSR

• This issue has now been fixed.

Consumers who fall into this category and were denied APTC/CSR should:

– If already enrolled in a QHP – “Report a Life Change”.

– If not already enrolled in a QHP – start a new application.

Consumers who are under 100% FPL and were denied Medicaid or CHIP based on immigration status should return to the FFM and answer on the application that he or she has been denied Medicaid/CHIP.

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