BY: LORI KERSEY – NOVEMBER 2, 2023 5:55 AM
Open enrollment started Wednesday for people who get their health insurance on the federal government’s health insurance Marketplace, healthcare.gov.
The plans, established through the Affordable Care Act, are open to people who don’t have access to health insurance through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program or another source. Open enrollment continues through Dec. 15 for plans that start next year. People who are enrolled in a program and do not make changes are automatically re-enrolled.
“Nothing keeps West Virginians up at night like the cost of health care,” Ellen Allen, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said in a statement about the enrollment period. “And with the rising prices of food, rent and childcare, too many families are left worrying about how to pay the bills and make ends meet. Meaningful health care coverage is critical to living a productive, secure, and healthy life.”
Last year, 23,037 West Virginians were enrolled in Marketplace insurance plans, according to the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.
According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 5.9 percent of West Virginians did not have health insurance in 2022. The national uninsured rate that year was 8%. In 2021, 6.1% of West Virginians were uninsured.
WV Navigator, is a grant-funded program that helps uninsured people enroll in health insurance.
“Many people will qualify for substantially lower costs this year if they get their insurance on the Marketplace,” Jeremy Smith, program director for WV Navigator, said in a news release. “We advise people to look at the new plans and prices released this year. Getting help with enrollment or renewal is essential, as many people are overwhelmed by the options or may not realize how to shop for affordable health coverage. Unfortunately, there are a lot of plans online masquerading as legitimate Marketplace plans, so if you aren’t careful, you could end up spending too much for a plan that doesn’t cover much.”
WV Navigator’s helpline, 1-844-WV-CARES, is open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Appointments can also be made online at https://acanavigator.com/wv/contact.
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