The HCR application for assistance is a means for a prospective client to apply for assistance and have their eligibility determined across multiple insurance affordability programs in a clear and straightforward manner, capturing and using only the information that is necessary for that determination.
The application script is designed to be as simplified and streamlined as possible so that only questions that are relevant to a household's circumstances are displayed. There are certain questions which must be asked of all applicants, therefore the application flows in general through the following sections - applicant details, household details, income information for the individuals in the household, program-specific questions and finally general questions that are asked of all applicants. Section introduction pages provide applicants with an explanation and details of the information they may need to provide. Section summary pages ensure that all information captured is displayed, also allowing applicants an opportunity to revisit and edit anything entered. There is also an overall summary for the application script which applicants can use at the end.
The aim is that the application is 'dynamic', meaning questions which are not relevant to the application of the person and their household are not displayed. This ensures that applicants can complete the process as quickly as possible, and won't be presented with information that doesn't affect their eligibility. A simple example is that a male household member will not be asked the pregnancy-related question; this is of more benefit to an applicant when they can avoid a series of questions, for example, a household member aged 26 and over will not be presented with the questions that are necessary to determine eligibility for Medicaid under the former foster care category, because individuals aged 26 and beyond are ineligible for this category of Medicaid.
Before beginning the application proper, a consent page is displayed so that applicants can agree to allow their information to be used to retrieve other details from government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security or the Inland Revenue Service. If consent is given, personal information like the citizen's social security number can be used to look up other systems and verify their identity, citizenship and other relevant details. If consent is not granted by the citizen, then any information they enter on an application will still be subject to verification by a caseworker before eligibility can be determined.