Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, finding health insurance doesn't have to be difficult, but there's an important deadline coming up on January 16th.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Having health insurance can give you peace of mind when you need it, but without it, recovery can often be difficult and devastating. There is a possibility.
Thanks to you Affordable Medical Care ActFinding health insurance doesn't have to be difficult, but for those who want to sign up or need to renew their insurance, there's an important deadline coming up on January 16th.
Katherine Hempstead is a senior policy advisor at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an organization that supports research and programs that uncover the factors that influence the health of communities. She said getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is a good option for many people.
“If you don't qualify for Medicaid or Medicare and your employer doesn't offer you an offer, it's a great time to get health insurance,” Hempstead said.
She says Texans have enthusiastically embraced purchasing health insurance through the federal marketplace. More than 2.3 million residents enrolled in Marketplace plans last year, an increase of more than 30% over the previous year.
One group for which this could be an important option are adults and children who no longer qualify for Continuing Medicaid, the pandemic-era protection system.
It could also help people who have been putting off solving health problems because they don't have insurance.
“All plans are federally regulated and cover the same benefits, so there are no bad plans,” Hempstead said. “Every plan covers the same medical care, mental health care and prescription drugs. All of these are covered in the same way.”
But what if you could choose your own doctor?
Will Heavin, an insurance agent with BCI Insurance Solutions in Corpus Christi, says local brokers are the place to go to help with the details of different plans.
“Our county has over 77 options to choose from,” he said. “People often choose the lowest priced plan, but like everything else, that doesn't necessarily mean it suits their needs.”
Not only is the service provided by Heavin and agents like him free of charge, but it also provides someone to talk to if you have any concerns after the interview begins.
“After being hospitalized, people can come in with a bunch of bills and say, 'Which of these do I have to pay and which goes toward my deductible?'” We want them to know that. We can help solve this problem,” Heavin said.
You must register by Tuesday, January 16th. By registering, you are guaranteed to receive medical coverage starting February 1st.
You can also register through the website healthcare.gov Alternatively, you can call your insurance broker and let them help you navigate your options.
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