Deadline for January 1 healthcare coverage approaching

JACKSON, Tenn. – A deadline to ensure you have healthcare coverage by January 1 is approaching.

Sharon Graham, a CMS Regional Director, says that there are quality health insurance plans that cover emergency services, prescription drugs, doctor visits, and more available at healthcare.gov.

However, the deadline to ensure you have that coverage by the first of the year is December 15.

“And people who need health insurance should visit our website at healthcare.gov to make any changes to their plans or to select a new plan by December 15. That’s the important date. Make a selection or a change by December 15 so that your coverage will be effective by January 1,” Graham said.

Graham says that there has been an expansion of financial assistance this year. More people may be able to save some money on their health insurance plans.

“We’ve expanded the financial help that’s available to people. So more customers can find quality, affordable health insurance when they go to healthcare.gov. In fact, we’re finding that four out of five customers can find a plan for $10 or less a month when they qualify for that expanded financial help,” Graham said.

There are some new things this year, which is a reason you should check your plans every single year.

“Not only can the plan change, but also your own personal situation can change. So the plan can change things like their monthly premium, or perhaps their out-of-pocket costs when you receive care and sometimes even the networks of hospitals and physicians that they contract with. Of course people’s personal situations can change as well. So you want to make sure that the health plan that you have, or the health plan that you are looking for, continues to meet your needs,” Graham said.

With the Inflation Reduction Act subsidies, many consumers will benefit from lower healthcare coverage premiums through 2025 on healthcare.gov.

Healthcare.gov says that the open enrollment period will continue through January 15, 2024. You can read more here.

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