GREENSBORO, N.C. — The open enrollment period is now extended to August 15, 2021. There will be new prices on plans released on April 1, 20211. This online calculator from the Kaiser Family Foundation includes the numbers for the new insurance subsidies. You can see a sneak peek here.
Today on 2 Wants to Know, Catherine Sevier of AARP NC, Morgan Campbell with Alliance Insurance Services and Laura Packard with Get America Covered answered your questions about open enrollment and Medicare.
Current open enrollment period:
Open enrollment opened on February 15. This current period is a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. Get America Covered said this enrollment period gives Americans who missed the December deadline the opportunity to sign up for affordable health insurance. The 2021 open enrollment period was from November 1 to December 15, 2020.
You can use the government website to find your own health insurance plan or you can call an independent insurance agent.
5 facts about signing up for coverage at HealthCare.gov from GetAmericaCovered.org:
#1: Sign up by August 15 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the greatest health insurance losses in American history.
#2: Coverage could be cheaper than you think. Last year at HealthCare.gov, nine in ten people qualified for financial help to make their monthly premiums more affordable. 4.7 million uninsured people were eligible for a plan with a zero dollar monthly premium.
#3: Shop and save. If you had coverage through HealthCare.gov for 2020, you should update your information and compare your options for 2021. Every year, plans and prices change; you could save money by switching to a new plan that still meets your needs.
#4: Accidents happen and people get sick. One trip to the ER could cost more than monthly rent. Health insurance protects you from the unexpected.
#5: Free help is available. If you have questions about signing up or want to talk through your options with a trained professional, free help is just a quick call away. Call 1-800-318-2596, visit localhelp.healthcare.gov or make a one-on-one appointment now.
Medicare enrollment
Want to compare Medicare plans? Try Medicare.gov
Enrollment for Medicare is time-sensitive. If you're eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, Medicare.gov said you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B. The period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, it includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after your birthday month.
If you miss that 7-month window, Scott Braddock of Scott Braddock Financial says you will suffer a 10% penalty every 12 months, and that penalty doesn't go away once you start. Braddock said you will pay a higher premium for the rest of your life.
According to the Marketplace website, you can preview 2021 plans and prices. Answer a few questions to see plans and estimated prices based on your income.
If you can't pay your premiums because of a COVID-19 financial hardship:
- Check with your insurance company about extending your premium payment deadline or ask if they will delay ending your coverage if you can’t pay your premiums.
- Most of the time, if you aren’t receiving financial assistance with your premiums, you have a grace period determined by state law (often one month). If you’re getting financial assistance, you have a three-month grace period during which your coverage can’t be terminated for not paying your premiums.
- If your household income has changed, update your application immediately. You could qualify for more savings than you're getting now.
NC MEDICAID MANAGED CARE
This information is from the NC DHHS website:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of statewide open enrollment for NC Medicaid Managed Care. Beneficiaries can enroll online, by calling the NC Medicaid Managed Care Call Center at 833-870-5500 (TTY: 833-870-5588) or through the free NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app available on Google Play or the App Store. They can also use the mail-in forms sent to them in the enrollment packet.
“With the start of NC Medicaid Managed Care open enrollment, families now have the chance to make important decisions about their health care to prepare for managed care launch in July,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “There are many resources available to help families select the health plans and providers that best meet their specific needs.”
The NC Medicaid Managed Care website offers a wide variety of tools and information to assist beneficiaries in choosing a primary care provider (PCP) and a health plan for their families’ care. Tools include frequently asked questions, a chat function, the Medicaid and NC Health Choice Provider and Health Plan Lookup Tool with four categories of search capabilities, advanced search based on specialty and the ability to view all providers within an organization/location and by practice name.
Most people who receive Medicaid can choose from five health plans as part of the state’s transition to managed care. Some people will not need to choose a health plan because of the type of health services they need. All health plans are required to have the same Medicaid services, such as office visits, blood tests and X-rays. Health plans each have their own network of qualified doctors and health care professionals. Health plans also have added services such as educational assistance and programs to have a healthy pregnancy. People can choose a PCP from their health plan’s network to deliver their families’ Medicaid services.