The open enrollment season for health insurance coverage for 2016 started on November 1st and amidst all the political hoopla and all the other things that distract us, this may have gone under your radar, so I am here to remind you that you need to go check it out if you have not already done so!
Yes, I know, health insurance is neither fun nor sexy but it’s important for you and your loved one. According to a report by Kaiser Family Foundation, uninsured women have less adequate access to health care, receive less adequate care and are generally sicker and use less preventive health services. So the importance of having health insurance can not be overemphasize: it’s good for you, your family and your pocket!!
So what do you need to know during open enrollment season beside Dr. Didi said “Go, sign up for health insurance for myself and my family?” Well here are 6 things to keep in mind:
- The Health Insurance Market Place is for people who don’t have insurance. This means if you can not access health insurance coverage through your job, your spouse’s job and don’t qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or Children’s Health Insurance Program. So do a little homework to find out if there is anything you might qualify for before looking at plans on the Health Insurance Market Place.
- Your insurance cost will depend on your income. The savings on your insurance costs are based on your estimated 2016 income, not on your 2015 income so if you anticipate a decrease income your savings will increase and the costs of insurance should decrease. You can use tools at healthcare.gov and getcoveredamerica.org to find out more about the costs of health insurance for your family and programs you may qualify for.
- You can not be denied health insurance based on gender or pre-existing conditions. I remember having a patient find out at the last minute that her insurance plan’s idea of parental care coverage was $3,000.00 total! Yep $3,000.00 total, which doesn’t even cover her hospital stay for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. And at one point when I was transitioning in my career and had to get self-covered, I was denied health insurance because I had had two c-sections even though my tubes were tied after my second delivery and I had an IUD (yes, I am truly trying to avoid #3!!) Well the ACA (Obamacare) has mandated that health insurance companies can no longer deny health insurance coverage for “pre-existing” conditions or charge you higher premiums based on gender.
- There are four different ways to apply for health insurance. You can apply:
- By phone
- Online
- In person-help (my favorite so you can ask all the questions and get an answer!)
- with a paper application
- If you don’t have health insurance coverage in 2016, you may have to pay a fee! Yep, if you have no coverage, not only will you have to pay out-of-pocket for your health care which can add up very quickly but you will also have to pay a fee. The fee is 2.5% of your total income or $695/ adult and $347.50/ children, which ever is the greatest. Ouch!!
- Keep these following deadlines in mind so you won’t be rushing at the last minute. Of course, all good things must come to a end! The open enrollment period is not indefinite and there are some important lines to keep in mind:
- Deadline to enroll so your coverage can start on January 1st 2016: December 15th, 2016
- Deadline so your coverage can start February 1st, 2016: January 15, 2016
- Last date to enroll for coverage in 2016: January 31st, 2016.
The health statistics are usually stacked against women, especially women of color, and because we are likelier to have health insurance coverage through our spouse, we are more vulnerable to losing our coverage. Get online, and find out more about health insurance coverage and what you can qualify for.
Get Enrolled so you can access the care you deserve for you & your family!
In Health,
Dr. Didi