If you’re a Native American or an Alaska Native you may have new health coverage benefits and protections in the Marketplace. In South Carolina, the Catawba tribe is a federally recognized tribe, which may entitle members to certain benefits in the health insurance marketplace! SChealthconnector.org is your #1 source for Catawba Native American Obamacare information!
To view marketplace plans CLICK HERE. Upon application, you will be asked to confirm Native American status & cost sharing will be applied. If you would like direct assistance applying, or have other questions regarding Catawba Native American Obamacare information, please call us at 843-882-7062 or email Josh@schealthconnector.org. We are always happy to help!
Some Obamacare benefits are available to members of federally recognized tribes such as the Catawba tribe. Others are available to people of Native American descent or who are otherwise eligible for services from the Indian Health Service, a tribal program, or an urban Indian health program.
Members of federally recognized tribes and ANCSA shareholders can enroll in Marketplace coverage any time of year. There’s no limited enrollment period for these individuals, and they can change plans up to once a month.
Special Marketplace protections and benefits for American Indians and Alaska Natives:
The Health Insurance Marketplace benefits American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) by providing opportunities for affordable health coverage.
This coverage can be through a private health plan bought in the Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Members of a federally recognized tribe and ANCSA Corporation Shareholders
If you buy private Obamacare insurance in the Health Insurance Marketplace and your income is up to around $70,650 for a family of 4 ($88,320 in Alaska), you can enroll in a zero cost sharing plan. This means you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance when you get care. If your income is above $70,650 for a family of 4 ($88,320 in Alaska), you can enroll in a limited cost sharing plan and pay no out-of-pocket costs when you get services from an Indian health care provider or from another provider if you have a referral from an Indian health care provider.
You can enroll any time. You can enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan any month, not just during the yearly Open Enrollment period.
American Indians, Alaska Natives, and others eligible for services from the Indian Health Service, tribal program, or urban Indian health program
You may qualify for Medicaid and CHIP more easily. You have special cost and eligibility rules for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that make it easier to qualify for these programs.
You don’t pay out-of-pocket costs for Indian health programs. Regardless of income, you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs for items or services provided by the Indian Health Service, tribal programs, or urban Indian programs (known as I/T/Us), including Purchased/Referred Care.
If you don’t have health insurance, you won’t have to pay the fee that most other people without health insurance must pay. To get a health coverage exemption from paying the fee, you’ll need to claim the exemption when you file your federal income tax return or fill out an exemption application and mail it to the Marketplace. Learn how to apply for this exemption.
Indian Health Services and Marketplace insurance
If you enroll in a private Obamacare health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace:
You can get (or keep getting) services from the Indian Health Service, tribal health programs, or urban Indian health programs.
You can also get services from any providers on the Marketplace plan.
By enrolling in health coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid, or CHIP, you have better access to services that the Indian Health Service, tribal programs, or urban Indian programs (known as I/T/Us) may not provide.
If you enroll in a Marketplace health plan, Medicaid, or CHIP, you can keep getting services from your I/T/U the same way you do now. When you get services from an I/T/U, the I/T/U can bill your insurance program. This benefits the tribal community, allowing I/T/Us to provide more services to others!