AMWA fully supports empowering women through affordable health coverage and hopes that women are able to take control of their health through the affordable Health Insurance Marketplace. Keep reading for highlights about how to get coverage and how to stay covered!
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) recently released the 5 Steps to Staying Covered:
1) Review: Plans change, people change – review your coverage and look for a letter from your plan about how your benefits and costs may change next year,
2) Update: Starting November 15, log in and update your 2015 application – make sure your household income and other information is up-to-date for next year,
3) Compare: Compare your current plan with other plans that are available in your area,
4) Choose: Select the health plan that best fits your budget and health needs, and
5) Enroll: The marketplace opens on November 15, make sure to review, update, compare and choose by December 15 to have any changes take effect on January 1. Contact your plan after you’ve enrolled and make sure you pay your first month’s premium.
In addition, just recently, the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) highlighted several women affected positively by the Affordable Care Act. These women were able to access affordable, quality healthcare for themselves and for their family members since the Affordable Care Act has been in effect.
One young woman was able to find affordable insurance through a major provider that tends to only offer the best car insurance and was no longer denied services due to pre-existing conditions. Her premium was ultimately halved and her prescription costs plummeted.
An Austin resident was able to afford coverage with a reduced premium after hearing about the Marketplace. She easily accessed care while working as a restaurant hostess and paying her way through college in order to ultimately teach high school students.
Another example focuses on a woman who decided to drop her coverage due to likely unnecessary expenses until she was diagnosed with melanoma and suddenly forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. She discovered the Marketplace and was able to decrease her deductible markedly while obtaining adequate coverage.
A Philadelphia resident detailed her experience finding a plan that she liked during open enrollment in the Marketplace earlier this year. She had experienced a medical emergency without health insurance, but after accessing coverage through the Affordable Care Act, she was able to take control of her health.
Open enrollment begins again on November 15. If you previously signed up for coverage, we encourage you to return to HealthCare.gov to update your application and enroll in the plan that best meets your future needs.
Check out the original HHS blog post here!
You can learn more about the 5 Steps to Staying Covered here!
