Navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace
For many, the winter months mean the holidays, more time with family, and delicious, sweet treats. But for some, it means health insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment for the upcoming year.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the Marketplace for millions of uninsured Americans. Many states offer their own marketplaces, but the federal government offers its service for other states like Kansas. Yet, navigating the Marketplace isn’t always easy.
That’s why every Tuesday and Friday during the open enrollment period (Nov 1 – Jan 15), Hunter Health is offering guidance through the Marketplace for everyone, regardless if they’re patients or not. The goal is to give them the tools they need to choose an option that suits them best.
“It’s not about us making recommendations,” says Cory Burch, business operations manager. “It’s about helping the patient get to the access points. Being able to fill out the documents, get the correct insurance, and then understand how the insurance works.”
Do you qualify for the Marketplace?
Do you need to sign up for health insurance? Before you seek help signing up for the Marketplace, ask yourself these 3 questions:
- Am I eligible for Medicaid? If yes, you are not eligible to enroll with tax subsidies on the Marketplace. If you have children, they may be eligible for Medicaid/MIChild. This doesn’t impact your eligibility for the Marketplace.
- Does my employer offer affordable insurance? If your employer insurance is less than 9.61% of your income for the lowest-priced, ACA-compliant employee-only plan, you are not eligible to enroll with tax credits on the Marketplace.
- Do you have income and are you filing taxes? You will need proof of income and a tax return to receive tax credits and enroll on the Marketplace.
To be eligible for Marketplace health coverage, you must live in the United States and be a U.S. citizen.
A Need in the Community
In 2022, as many as 16.9 million people signed up for individual market coverage. That’s the highest enrollment since 2016, which means more people are looking for help navigating the Marketplace.
Cory says he sees a need for this service in Hunter Health’s own patient population. Whether the issue is a lack of internet access, or not understanding the process, he says it’s an opportunity to open more people up to the care we can provide.
“This could be anybody from any age group. It could be the 27-year-old who has gotten off their parent’s insurance and needs help. Or it could be the 65-year-old applying for Medicaid and Medicare,” he says. “Our help could break down such barriers for those concerned about affording the care they need.”
This service is the latest step in our effort to expand our integrated care model and provide quality, affordable care to all. To learn more or schedule a meeting with one of our Patient Care Coordinators, call 316-262-2415 or email OpenEnrollment@HunterHealth.org.
