AmeriCorps Benefits & How to Apply. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national service program that focuses on projects aiming to alleviate poverty in communities across the country. Health Care Options . If you have specific questions that aren't answered below, please follow up with your program manager. For Ameri. Corps VISTA members, see the Ameri. Corps VISTA Health Care Options or visit www. Beginning in 2. 01. Ameri. Corps members will have new options for quality, affordable health insurance made available by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Like all Americans, Ameri. Corps members can now access comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage through a variety of means. These health insurance options meet the new consumer protection standards under the Affordable Care Act. Over the next year, Ameri. Corps will be working to improve the quality of health care for its members and to provide insurance that meets the requirements of the ACA in the near future. At this time, Ameri. Corps programs must continue to offer a health plan to full- time Ameri. Since 2001, the Alliance for Rural Community Health (ARCH) has proudly participated in an AmeriCorps program called the Community HealthCorps. HEALTHCARE BENEFIT OVERVIEW. As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, you are covered by the AmeriCorps VISTA Healthcare Benefits Program for the duration of your service term. Serving as an AmeriCorps National member offers you several benefits. AmeriCorps National members. AmeriCorps VISTA program benefits. Health plan benefits. Corps members, but these plans may not meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act. That is why we are reaching out to you directly to ensure you understand your health insurance options during your service as an Ameri. Corps member. We are also communicating with leaders of your programs so they have a complete understanding of their options for providing health coverage to their members. They will be able to help answer your questions as well. Overview: What Are Your Options? It is important that you have information to help you learn what health care coverage is available to you so you can choose what works best for you. Your options might be different depending on your program or the state where you are serving. Please review the following information, and be sure to discuss this with your program. Whether you are already serving or just beginning your service, you should review this essential information. Family health care coverage: Under the Affordable Care Act, you can stay on your parent’s health insurance policy until your 2. For more information about this option, please see: https: //www. In addition, if you are married you may be able to get coverage on your spouse’s plan. Health care coverage purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace: You may be eligible to obtain health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces where you are serving, and you may qualify for financial assistance to lower the costs of insurance. Depending on the amount of your stipend and where you serving, you may be eligible for Medicaid. For more information, please see: Health. Care. gov. Current health plan offered by your Ameri. Corps Program: Currently serving full time Ameri. Corps members already receive insurance through their programs. Your program may elect to continue to offer you the same plan they are offering you now, even if it does not meet all of the requirements under the ACA so long as it meets the requirements for Ameri. Corps programs (you can find what is required for Ameri. Corps programs on page 1. Final. Provisions. For example, your current plan may exclude coverage of pre- existing conditions. At a minimum, Ameri. Corps programs are required to provide health plans that were short- term, limited duration (no more than 3. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is again exercising its authority to establish a hardship exemption for national service members who did not have minimum essential coverage (MEC) in 2. December 3. 1, 2. This hardship exemption means that you will not be subject to the Individual Shared Responsibility payment for not maintaining MEC coverage in 2. When prompted, fill in “AMERICORPS” as the reason. If you have already completed a hardship exemption form and were denied, please contact the healthcare marketplace to inquire about updating your hardship exemption form. We have worked with HHS to have them now approve those previously rejected exemption forms. If you have already filed your taxes and paid a penalty for not having MEC for the full year, you need to amend your tax return to reflect the fact that you now have an exemption. Medicaid and the Marketplace. Will I qualify for free or reduced price health insurance? Under the Affordable Care Act, many states are expanding their Medicaid program. Single individuals with incomes up to about $1. Medicaid. To see if you qualify for Medicaid, please visit: https: //www. You can also find a private health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Based on your income you can qualify for lower costs on your monthly premiums, and may even be able to find a plan with no monthly premium. Therefore, we wanted to provide our grantees with options that could best meet their needs and those of members like you. Organizations that get funding for Ameri. Corps members have been made aware of the options available to you. These options include organizations offering health insurance that provides the new consumer protections, staying on your parent’s or spouse’s health insurance plan, enrolling in a private health insurance plan in the Marketplace or Medicaid if you qualify, or continuing to offer the health plan they have used for many years (keeping in mind that coverage may not be considered minimum essential coverage). We are committed to working with your programs to make sure Ameri. Corps members get quality, affordable health coverage.
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December 2016
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