By Stephen Selzer

Open enrollment for health coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace closes February 15, 2015. If you haven’t yet signed up for individual or family coverage, there’s still time.

Health coverage helps cover the cost of services, tests and treatments to help you get and stay healthy. Items covered include preventive care, health screenings, well woman and prenatal care, immunizations for adults and children, treatment for pre-existing conditions, and the cost of some prescription medications. All plans must offer this basic level of coverage.

Health insurance is important. It ensures that you and your family have access to the care that you need to be healthy and weather any unforeseen health issues, such as an unexpected illness or injury that may arise.

 

Who’s eligible?

If you haven’t yet enrolled or re-enrolled for health insurance coverage for 2015-16, you may be wondering if a Marketplace plan is right for you. The Marketplace is designed to make health insurance accessible and affordable. Most people are eligible to shop for and purchase health insurance through the Marketplace, including:

United States citizens or nationals;

Legal immigrants;

People who are currently uninsured;

Full- or part-time workers without job-based coverage;

People who are unemployed, without COBRA or other benefits; and

People who are COBRA-covered, but interested in replacing that coverage with a Marketplace plan.

If your employer has decided not to offer health insurance or you work part time and have no job-based coverage, you may choose a health plan through the Marketplace.

 

Why health coverage?

All U.S. citizens must have minimum essential coverage under healthcare law. People who choose not to have health insurance may be required to pay a penalty.

Types of plans and coverage that meet the minimum essential coverage requirements include:

• Any Marketplace plan, or any individual insurance plan you already have;

• Any employer plan (including a COBRA plan);

• Retiree health plans;

• Medicare;

• Medicaid;

• Coverage available through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);

• TRICARE (for current service members and military retirees, their families, and survivors) and veterans’ healthcare programs; and

• Peace Corps volunteer plans.

Health plans that cover only vision or dental care, workers’ compensation, or medical services discount plans do not count as minimum essential coverage.

Andalusia Regional Hospital Can Help

Andalusia Regional Hospital can help you learn more about the health plans available to you and choose the one that’s right for you. We have Certified Application Counselors (CACs) onsite to support you in the application process.

Contact us today. You can call us toll-free at 888-982-9144. Our CACs are available for phone or in-person appointments.

You also can email us to ask questions or set up an appointment at andalusia.CAC@lpnt.net, or visit us online at www.AndalusiaRegional.com for information and a handy checklist of documents you will need for enrollment.

 

Stephen Selzer is CEO of Andalusia Regional Hospital.