An Obamacare sign is seen outside of the Leading Insurance Agency, which offers plans under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) on January 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
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Millions of people in the U.S. are at risk of losing Medicaid this year when coverage protections put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic come to an end in April.
To make it easier for these individuals to transition to other coverage, the Health and Human Services Department has announced a special enrollment period for Obamacare.
People who lose Medicaid coverage from March 31 through July 31, 2024 can apply for Obamacare outside of the normal enrollment period at healthcare.gov if they live in a state served by the federal marketplace, according to new guidance from HHS.
A majority of the states, 33 in total, use healthcare.gov as their insurance marketplace. The 17 states that run their own marketplaces can implement a special enrollment period but are not required to do…
2023-01-30 17:24:28 Obamacare special enrollment for people who lose Medicaid
Link from www.cnbc.com It has been recently announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that people who have recently lost Medicaid eligibility can take advantage of a special enrollment period for health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also referred to as “Obamacare.” The special enrollment period will allow people to enroll in ACA plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace from the date that their current Medicaid coverage ends, up to two months after.
This special enrollment period was established to ensure that individuals who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage will still have access to health insurance. It provides additional time for people to explore health plan options and make a health plan selection, even if they are outside of the standard open enrollment period.
This news is especially important for individuals who may not have access to affordable health plans under their employers, or for those who don’t qualify for assistance with private health coverage. In addition, those who do qualify for assistance may still find the extra two months to be beneficial, as it ensures that they are able to select the plan that best works for them and their needs.
The special enrollment period applies to people who experience a Medicaid coverage lapse within the last 60 days, or those who are expected to experience a gap in coverage within the next 60 days. The coverage must have been in a state Medicaid program (not a limited Medicaid program), and the individuals must not be covered by another insurance plan.
It is important to note that special enrollment periods are different than the standard open enrollment period, so those who are signing up cannot expect to receive the tax credits they would receive by enrolling during the open enrollment period. As part of the enrollment process, people will also be asked to provide proof of their Medicaid ineligibility.
The announcement of the special enrollment period brings relief to those who had been previously uncertain of how they would continue to have access to healthcare services. This new option ensures that people have the opportunity to select the health plan that works best for them and their needs, even when they find themselves without Medicaid coverage.