Category: ACA Enrollment - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

ACA enrollment surges - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

11/29/2022

ACA enrollment surges!

Health Care Reform Forum

The Biden administration is seeing a big increase in the number of new customers buying private health insurance for 2023 from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) marketplace. Nearly 3.4 million people have signed up for coverage — an increase of 17% compared to the same time last year.

The number of uninsured Americans this year reached a historic low of 8%. The marketplace also saw large gains in the number of Black, Latino and Native Americans who sought coverage.

If you don’t have health insurance simply go to the official government website, HealthCare.gov. and find a plan that suits you. Low income families can qualify for generous subsidies. If you enroll and pay your first premium by December 15th, your coverage will start January 1, 2023. The 2023 Open Enrollment Period continues through January 15, 2023.

Frank Samuelson

Update your ACA insurance status - What You Can Do Now

6/22/2022

Updating your insurance status through the government marketplace is crucial!

Health Care Reform Forum

You May Qualify for Lower Insurance Rates!

Updating your insurance status through the government marketplace is crucial.

If you have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) through the government marketplace (healthcare.gov), you must report income changes, household changes (new baby or marriage), or changes in disability or citizenship status. Many times these all combine to lower your payments.

Read the details, and learn how to report changes on this link:
https://www.healthcare.gov/blog/remember-update-us-when-your-income-household-changes/

PACG Office Manager

ACA Signup Denial? - What You Can Do Now

6/14/2022

Reduce the chance your ACA insurance is denied!

Health Care Reform Forum

Don’t Be Surprised if Your Insurance is Denied!

Be careful when signing up for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. What you see may not always be what you get.

It is wise, when signing up for insurance through the government marketplace, (healthcare.gov) to use a navigator - someone who is trained in helping new consumers. These navigators do not receive a commission for selling a policy. This helps to ensure that they are working for the consumer and not for a company or corporation. Working with an expert can also save you a great deal of money.

We believe there are companies and organizations who are purposely misleading consumers by posing as the official government health insurance marketplace. It’s unclear as to who will protect you, so you must protect yourself. Read stories about individuals who were surprised when their “insurance” cards were denied.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/06/07/1103334082/they-thought-they-bought-obamacare-plans-what-they-got-wasnt-insurance

PACG Office Manager

Graduates need health care coverage! - What You Can Do Now

5/31/2022

Graduates need health care coverage

Health Care Reform Forum

Calling all graduates: You have health insurance options!As graduation day approaches, here are three health insurance ideas for graduates or young adults.

You may enroll in a parent’s insurance plan if you’re under 26.
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicaid might be a viable option for you.

Learn why you should care about health insurance and what affordable options are available to you here:
https://www.healthcare.gov/blog/find-health-insurance-recent-graduates/

PACG Office Manager

ACA Sign Up - What You Can Do Now

1/6/2022

Sign Up for ACA Coverage for 2022
Enrollment Ends on Saturday, January 15th

Health Care Reform Forum

Consumers seeking government-subsidized health insurance for next year can sign up by Saturday, January 15th for Affordable Care Act coverage, with increased financial assistance available through President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief legislation. This coverage will take effect on February 1st.

People who are already enrolled don't have to do anything. If they're satisfied with their current plan, they will be automatically renewed for 2022.

HealthCare.gov and its state-run counterparts are insurance marketplaces that offer taxpayer-subsidized private coverage.

Go to http://healthcare.gov/ for more information.

Julie Ross

ACA Wins in the Supreme Court - Again!

6/29/2021

Health Care Reform Forum
A Message to Our Membership

ACA Wins!!

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act for the third time, leaving in place the broad provisions of the law enacted by Congress in 2010. The vote was 7 to 2. The decision threw out the challenge that Texas, and other objecting states, were not harmed in any way. "To have standing, a plaintiff must 'allege personal injury fairly traceable to the defendant's allegedly unlawful conduct and likely to be redressed by the requested relief,' " the majority wrote. "No plaintiff has shown such an injury 'fairly traceable' to the 'allegedly unlawful conduct' challenged here.”

The Biden administration has increased subsidies for lower income families and both ACA marketplace insurance and Medicaid coverage have reached record levels. We advocate that providing a “public option” would further strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

Julie Ross

What You Can Do Now - Enrollment in the ACA Opened

2/16/2021

New Opportunity For ACA Health Insurance! Update

The Biden Administration is offering a new enrollment opportunity for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA or Obamacare) from February 15th through August 15th.

An estimated 9 million Americans may be eligible for low- or no-cost insurance from the ACA. Log on to Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore your options.

If you have lost your health insurance during the pandemic, or for any other reason are uninsured, you may qualify for coverage. If you know someone who may be uninsured, encourage them to check out their options on the ACA.

Please help share this good news by reprinting the flier and posting it at your church, on community bulletin boards, or wherever it may be seen.

Thank you!

The PACG Health Care Reform Forum

Julie Ross

Open Enrollment for ACA Nov 1st to Dec 15th

10/20/2020

Spread the Word About the ACA! Open Enrollment Starts Soon
November 1st through December 15th

Health Care Reform Forum

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is still the law of the land!

Uninsured families, including those who have lost health insurance or have lost income due to the pandemic, may qualify for insurance and/or a subsidy on the ACA Marketplace. Open enrollment is from November 1st through December 15th.

You can help share this good news by:
1. Encouraging any friend, neighbor or family member that you think might need health insurance to check out their eligibility on HealthCare.gov.

2. Distributing or posting a flier about the ACA enrollment on community bulletin boards, in barber shops, salons laundromats, churches, etc. Place these wherever (especially, low income) people might see them.

3. Download and print “Need Health Insurance?” fliers like the one below, or contact me for copies.

Frank Samuelson

need_health_insurance_2020.pdf
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ACA Deadline for Laid-Off Workers

6/2/2020

ACA Deadlines Near For Laid-Off Workers

Health Care Reform Forum

Workers who were laid off due to the coronavirus shutdown, and who lost their employer health insurance, have a 60-day window of opportunity to seek replacement insurance on the Affordable Care Marketplace.

Low-income or unemployed workers may be eligible for subsidized insurance on the ACA. If you know anyone who might qualify for this benefit, encourage them to go to www.healthcare.gov/ to see if they qualify. They must apply within 60 days of becoming unemployed.

Frank Samuelson

What You Can Do Now - ACA Enrollment After Job Loss Due to the Pandemic

4/16/2020

Letter to the Editor - Important Update
Regarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

Health Care Reform Forum

On behalf of, and with the approval of, the PACG Health Care Reform Forum, I submitted the letter that follows to the local QC newspapers, and it was published on Saturday, April 11. My involvement with PACG was duly noted. If you know of anyone who has lost his/her job and associated health insurance, please bring the potential assistance that might be available at healthcare.gov to his/her attention.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans are losing their jobs. Those with employer-provided health insurance may also be losing that coverage at the worst possible time: leaving them with potentially no income and, if they become ill, no insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) offers them valuable resources.

Iowa and Illinois residents in that situation may be able to get insurance on the federal ACA Marketplace. They may also qualify for a premium subsidy or for coverage under Medicaid. The website healthcare.gov allows them to explore their options. It is important to note that they have a 60-day window after losing their employment in which to apply.

Although some insurers have waived some consumer costs of coronavirus treatment, such costs can still be very high, especially if hospitalization is required; moreover, other health care issues (broken leg, appendicitis) may still arise. Having good health insurance is essential.

The coronavirus pandemic has made us acutely aware of how important it is for all Americans to have access to good health care. The Affordable Care Act has already provided health insurance for millions of uninsured families, and it is there for many of us who need the coverage now. Our people need our government to uphold that law, not seek its overthrow in the courts.

One of the lessons we must learn from this terrible time is that good health care coverage needs to be strengthened and expanded to cover everyone, in good times as well as bad.

Karen Metcalf, Co-facilitator
Health Care Reform Forum
Progressive Action for the Common Good