Remember that this Sunday, December 15 is the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts on January 1, 2025, so Visit HealthCare.Gov to sign up for coverage if you have not already and qualify!
As per the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), review the latest CMS report, automatic reenrollment, a CBPP report on the enhanced premium tax credit, and more to stay informed during the last few weeks of open enrollment!
The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities are aware of potential changes to their healthcare with the new administration taking office starting January 20, 2025. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA Marketplace plans at a higher rate than those without disabilities due to their unique needs.
By updating this newsletter with resources and educational pieces on where disability health policies stand, we hope to ensure that the disability community continues to have access to accessible and affordable healthcare coverage no matter what changes occur in the next four years.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) gave a perspective on the potential and likely financial cuts Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. This was through a JAMA Health Forum column that would explore how the incoming administration would shift financial responsibility and decision-making to the states.
The CHIRblog discussed enhancing essential health benefits and how states are updating plans to help improve coverage of the populations that it they serve. States have the flexibility to expand these benefits thanks to recent rule changes alongside grant awards.
CBPP covered the tracking of Medicaid coverage as the COVID-19 era pandemic protections end, a process that began in April 2023 and ended coverage for those ineligible for healthcare coverage or were terminated for procedural reasons. This then triggered record enrollment in the ACA Marketplace OE later that year but still found coverage losses.
KFF updated their continuing Section 1115 waivers tracker by each state. The tracker includes waiver provisions, such as expansions and restrictions, as they relate to eligibility, benefits, and social determinants of health and healthcare system reform.
Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families discussed the budget resolution and reconciliation process and its impact on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. With a change in administration, it is important to know where funding stands for these health insurance programs that are greatly used by people with disabilities.
Use CMS’ partner tools and toolkits to conduct outreach for OE. This includes social media posts, images, scripts, themed weeks, webinars, and more! Outreach materials are available in multiple languages. Get covered or make changes to existing plans today. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
- December 15, 2024 (that is THIS Sunday!): the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts on January 1, 2025
- January 15: the official end of OE and last day to enroll in coverage that starts on February 1, 2024
The Young Invincibles have sample posts and graphics available in both English and Spanish for Open Enrollment. Find the resources below:
- Open Enrollment toolkit
- ACA4DACA Partner toolkit
- Week by week social media messaging calendar
- Graphics
As a part of our partnership with the CBPP, we have updated Factsheets 1 through 16, excluding Factsheet 6 in anticipation for Open Enrollment (OE). Read an overall summary of relevant factsheets on our blog here. People with disabilities can expect to find a plan for less than $10 per month – visit HealthCare.Gov for more information.
Keep up with vaccinations this flu season and be prepared with free at-home COVID-19 tests that are accessible for people who are blind or have low vision and those with low manual dexterity. Through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the United States Postal Service (USPS), test will be able to detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of 2024.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.