The first group of Louisianians who no longer qualify for Medicaid will be removed from the rolls next Saturday, July 1. Over the next year, tens of thousands of Louisianians could lose their government health insurance.
I’ve written about making sure you KEEP your coverage if you are eligible. But not everyone on Medicaid today will remain eligible.
If you no longer qualify for Medicaid, take steps to stay covered. The last thing you want is to have a gap in your healthcare coverage and risk any chronic conditions becoming worse. Keeping your care affordable means staying covered.
The federal government is allowing a Special Enrollment Period on Healthcare.gov for anyone who is losing their Medicaid coverage. That enrollment period is going to be open from 60 days BEFORE you are disenrolled from your Medicaid coverage, up to 90 days AFTER.
What To Do?
First, check with your employer to see if they offer health insurance coverage. Your Human Resources department is a good place to start. See what your plan options are.
If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance coverage or you do not qualify, you can find an affordable Healthcare.gov plan. More people now qualify for more financial aid than ever before to buy plans there, so you could end up with a very, very low-cost plan.
If you’re buying a Healthcare.gov plan, especially if it’s for the first time, make sure that you understand what you are signing up for. Shady brokers or scam artists could leave you unknowingly uninsured.
As I’ve said before, your best bet is to work with a reputable, licensed agent who understands these plans and will walk you through your choices – at no cost to you and no obligation to buy.
Connect with our Blue Cross agents at 1-844-GET-BLUE (TTY 711) or GetPlanOptions.com. Or, use this online tool from Louisiana Department of Insurance to find an agent near you.
I’ve got more tips on how to find a plan that meets your needs in this video (1:47).
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