The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — “Obamacare” — mandates that all Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty starting next year.
Recognizing that many Realtors, as independent contractors and small-business owners, do not have access to quality, affordable health insurance, NAR has launched a “Realtors Insurance Marketplace,” described as a one-stop online shop for health insurance needs.
In addition to offering two of NAR’s existing health insurance plans, the Realtors Insurance Marketplace will offer two new insurance plans:
- A major medical health insurance exchange for NAR members, featuring HMOs, PPOs, HSAs and high-deductible plans.
- Short-term insurance designed to be an affordable temporary major medical policy.
NAR is partnering with SASid, Smart And Simple insurance development.
The open enrollment period starts Oct. 1, 2013. Starting in 2014, individual major medical plans are “guaranteed issue,” meaning you cannot be turned down for coverage due to insurance underwriting.
Many real estate professionals will qualify for health care tax credits to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
What do you think about mandatory health insurance, and NAR’s efforts to provide health insurance options to members? Leave your comments below.
