The American public has already seen a first draft of the American Health Care Act and, though changes may be coming for the health care plan, many people are wondering just how the health insurance reform will affect them personally. If you're one of the many moms who work from home — whether you're self-employed, a contractor, or simply a remote employee — you may be wondering: how will Trumpcare affect work-from-home moms? The answer seemingly depends on whether or not you freelance or whether you're a remote employee.
Freelancers or contractors generally seek out their own insurance, while employees often receive coverage from their employers. There is one huge change, however, that will affect both kinds of workers: Under Trumpcare, no one would actually be required to have or provide insurance anymore. According to The Telegraph, Americans wouldn't be forced to have insurance, and larger employers would no longer need to provide insurance for their employees.
What does that mean for those insured through work? Considering that around 50 percent of Americans receive their coverage through work, WFH mothers could be affected by the repeal of the employer mandate. WFH mothers covered by their employers could lose their insurance if their workplace decided to stop offering insurance. If so, moms would have to choose to either remain uninsured or to purchase insurance from the individual market.
The problem, according to The Atlantic, is that many of the options available on the individual market might not match the standard of those offered by workplaces. This is the same problem freelance or contract WFH moms could encounter as well: Under Trumpcare, tax credits would not be as generous to most Americans as they are under the Affordable Care Act, and insurance providers could legally cover a smaller percentage of people's health care costs. That would mean those uninsured by their employers could face rising insurance costs for less coverage — or they could take the other option allowed by Trumpcare and simply risk not having health insurance.
There are, fortunately, a couple of mandates that the American Health Care Act wouldn't alter, according to The Telegraph. Anyone under the age of 26 would still be able to receive coverage under their parents' plan, and insurance companies would be required to cover maternity care and preventative services (among eight other essential health benefits). So regardless of who is paying for your health insurance — whether that's you or your employer — moms can rest easy that their children can remain on their insurance plans, and that maternity services are covered.
It's still not clear what changes the GOP is planning to bring to Trumpcare, but it's never too early for WFH mothers to call their representatives and let them know what they need from their health insurance — whether that means more affordability, more options, or a higher percentage of coverage from providers.
