The last chance to sign up for healthcare is approaching fast
Procrastinators! It’s time. The March 31st deadline to sign up for health insurance is coming up fast. This is the last chance this year for uninsured individuals to purchase individual insurance. If you are uninsured, visit www.healthcare.gov today. There you can apply for coverage and likely receive tax credits to help you buy insurance. Enrollment help is also available at Mineral Regional Health Center.
With the credits, insurance may be far more affordable than you think. Tens of thousands of Montanans have already signed up for health insurance through the Marketplace and 85 percent have received help paying for their coverage.
These Montanans now have high quality insurance plans that cover doctor’s office visits, hospitalizations, prescription drugs, mental health and emergency care. In addition, all plans cover free preventive care and early detection screenings. None of these Montanans were denied coverage or treatment for pre-existing conditions, thanks to new protections in the health care reform law. They have all gained the peace of mind that comes with insurance – and you can too, if you act now.
At Mineral Regional Health Center, we want our patients and all members of our community to be healthy. We provide primary care on a sliding scale, so that everyone, regardless of income or insurance, can see a primary care doctor. Quality primary care is fundamental to good health, but sometimes patients need additional treatment for cancer or diabetes or other conditions – and they need health insurance to access it.
That’s why we are committed to helping Montanans sign up for health insurance. So far, we have helped over one hundred people in our community explore their insurance options and enroll in a plan.
After doing so many enrollments, we have some tips for those who still need to sign up:
• Act now – don’t wait until the last minute! Give yourself extra time to get through the application process because sometimes glitches happen.
• Look beyond the premium. Lower premiums typically correspond with higher deductibles and out of pocket costs – make sure you can afford these costs if you choose a lower premium plan.
• If you have a doctor or health care provider that you like and want to keep, make sure you choose an insurance plan that he or she accepts. Call your doctor or the insurance company to find out.
• Remember that you need to pay your first month’s premium before your coverage can begin.
• After you are enrolled, make sure you tell the Marketplace about any major life changes – for example, if you lose your job, get a raise, get married or have a baby. Some life changes may allow you to update your coverage, add family members, or get a lower cost plan.
There is one notable exception to the availability of affordable insurance. Because our state legislature failed to expand Medicaid, members of our community who make the least do not qualify for any help accessing health insurance. They are neither eligible for tax credits nor Medicaid and have no other option but to remain uninsured.
Even if you are in this Medicaid gap, it’s a good idea to create an account with the Marketplace to receive an exemption from the tax penalty. Additionally, if your income increases, you may become eligible for tax credits and a special enrollment period.
If you have questions about any of this, we are here to help. Kristi Scott or Monte Turner, certified application counselors, can sit down with you to walk you through the process. Contact Kristi at 822-7134 or Monte at 822-5122.
At Mineral Regional Health Center we will continue to provide primary care to everyone who comes through our door, whether or not the person has insurance. But primary care only goes so far.
If you are in a major accident or are diagnosed with cancer and don’t have insurance, you’re unlikely to be able to pay for that care on a sliding scale. This is your last chance to purchase health insurance this year. Don’t miss it!
Kristi Scott is a Certified Application Counselor at Mineral Regional Health Center in Superior.