GREENSBORO, N.C. — It’s health insurance enrollment time whether you get it through a work plan, on the ACA marketplace...or through Medicare.
Staying with the plan you had last year without looking at the options, shouldn't be an option, because plans change.
The first thing everyone should do:
Write down a list of your doctors and prescriptions and determine if they are still covered under your current plan and if not, which plan will cover them.
When it comes to the Affordable Care Act:
Costs vary depending on the plan you choose and where you live, but you may be able to qualify for help from the government in the form of tax credits and/or the ability to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
Healthcare.gov is the best resource. You have until December 15 to sign up for your benefits to begin on January 1, 2024.
Medicare Open Enrollment:
If you are over 65, and currently have Medicare, your open enrollment period is on until December 7.
Again, insurance companies often change what they cover from year to year, so check your doctors and prescriptions.
Does your work benefit offer you an HSA?
A Health Savings Account is worth taking advantage of.
The money you put in there from your paycheck goes into the account, no taxes are taken out.
The money grows without you being taxed on it and when you take the money out to pay for a doctor's appointment there is no tax due. It's a win all the way around. If you leave your job, your HSA goes with you, so you never lose the money.