On January 25, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released draft versions of online and paper applications which consumers will fill out to buy policies in the new health insurance marketplaces, which are slated to begin enrolling people in October.
Drafts of the paper application and a 60-page description of the online version were quietly posted online by the Health and Human Services Department, seeking feedback from industry and consumer groups via the paperwork reduction act (PRA). The government's draft application runs 15 pages for a three-person family. An outline of the online version has 21 steps, some with additional questions.
At least three major federal agencies, including the IRS, will scrutinize your application. Checking your identity, income and citizenship is supposed to happen in real time, if you apply online.
The government estimates its online application will take a half hour to complete, on average. If you need a break, or have to gather supporting documents, you can save your work and come back later. The paper application is estimated to take an average of 45 minutes.
CMS Video of Proposed Application
