DECEMBER 15 IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR COVERAGE THAT STARTS ON JANUARY 1
Start the new year off right and sign up for healthcare coverage through the marketplace by today, December 15 for coverage that starts right on the new year on January 1. Those interested in obtaining healthcare coverage can visit healthcare.gov to start an application if Medicaid coverage was lost or to review current marketplace plans.
As consumers sign up for coverage, new enrollees can create an account at healthcare.gov here. Those with an account can review or change healthcare coverage plans here. Those who have lost Medicaid coverage during the unwinding process can be eligible for a Marketplace plan at a low-cost for coverage that includes prescription drugs, doctor visits, urgent care, hospital visits, and more! Coverage is more affordable than ever thanks to tax credits that help lower monthly premiums and cost-sharing reductions that help lower payment, like copays and deductibles, on healthcare services.
The NDNRC released its latest factsheet on assisting consumers with communication needs, along with an accessible PDF version. This factsheet is intended to help Navigators who work with people with disabilities who have communication-related needs in the process of applying for health insurance coverage through the Marketplace. It also covers general and population specific strategies and guidelines on how to provide effective and accessible communication to consumers.
As of December 14, over 12.5 million Medicaid enrollees have lost coverage, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. 34% of those who completed the renewal process were disenrolled and 23.4 million enrollees were able to qualify for renewed coverage. The large range of disenrollment rates in each state varies, with the highest of 62% being in Texas and the lowest of 10% in Illinois and Maine. Out of all states with available data, 71% of all those disenrolled were due to procedural reasons.
Navigators who work with people with disabilities should have all the resources that they need as it relates to enrollment in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace during Open Enrollment from November 1 to January 16. These resources consist of a Disability Guide to help in identifying issues that are central to healthcare insurance for people with disabilities along with 17 topical and 9 population specific factsheets.
The CHIRblog reviewed what states are doing to keep people covered as the unwinding continues. With increased cost and paperwork, innovative programs and statewide strategies are facing slight setbacks. To address this, some states have begun to implement programs that help decrease or eliminate enrollment barriers that consumers continue to face.
The Department of Health and Human Services has provided critical tools in helping improve access to Medicaid home and community-based services. These improvements include enhanced Medicaid funding for HCBS, improved access to care, care quality, and health outcomes, and better health equity milestones and goals in the Medicaid program. This informational bulletin has been released for viewing.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.