As business owners contemplate how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will affect their employee benefits offerings, the federal government has released an easy-to-read, short application that people who are uninsured will be able to fill out requesting coverage.
Health officials for President Barack Obama say they have shortened the length of what consumers will use to apply for health coverage through the ACA, from 21 pages to just three pages.
Marilyn Tavenner, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, indicated that the new application will make it much simpler for individuals to apply for health coverage.
"This is another step complete as we get ready for a consumer-friendly marketplace that will be open for business later this year," said Tavenner.
Health experts point out that the overall size of the form depends on how many people there are in a given family who require coverage. For example, the abridged application form for a family of four is 12 pages in length and becomes more comprehensive the more children there are.
