Updated FAQs Provide New Answers as the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace Enters Its Second Year

Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation released an updated collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) providing detailed answers for consumers, and the navigators and brokers who assist them, as the Nov. 15 start date nears for the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period.

The searchable collection includes nearly 300 up-to-date responses, answering new questions about plan renewal, cancellations, and continuing financial assistance. The FAQs also offer guidance for understanding 2014 federal income taxes in the context of the health law, addressing potential penalties for not obtaining coverage, exemptions to the individual mandate, and other subjects. Answers have been updated to key questions about the law and how it applies to people in different circumstances, including marketplace and Medicaid eligibility, and guidance for immigrants, people with variable incomes and others in special situations.

Additionally, a new issue brief, Explaining the 2015 Open Enrollment Period, provides an overview of what consumers can expect during the ACA’s second open enrollment period and the tax filing season that follows.

The Foundation encourages organizations to link to the FAQ web page, and each question and answer may be shared individually by direct link, and via Twitter and Facebook.

The FAQ compilation is part of a series of new and updated Foundation resources to be released in coming weeks to help consumers understand health insurance and navigate open enrollment. For more information, visit Understanding Health Insurance, and check kff.org and @KaiserFamFound on Twitter for an “FAQ of the Day.”