Iowans and Illinoisans have just five days to apply for Affordable Care Act Health Insurance.
If they miss the Saturday, Jan. 15, deadline to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period, they may not be able to get coverage again until 2023, according to the Iowa Navigator.
Marketplace coverage, in most cases, is lower than it has been in several years, according to IA Navigator, a free, non-profit program that offers enrollment assistance for the Health Insurance Marketplace to Iowa residents.
The Obamacare Healthcare.gov marketplace is offered to anyone who is not eligible for insurance through Medicare, Medicaid, or employer-based insurance. Enrollment is already up nationally at an all-time high with 13.6 million people getting much needed health coverage, an IA Navigator news release said.
Changes from the American Rescue Plan are making it much easier for Iowans to get affordable coverage. In fact, the number of consumers getting coverage for $10 or less per month after tax credits has nearly doubled. Even most high-income earners now will be able to qualify for the lower-cost plans, IA Navigator said.
IA Navigator is encouraging anyone eligible to check into the marketplace – even if they have checked in on it before.
“Most people will be able to qualify for substantially lower costs this year if they get their insurance on the Marketplace,” said Jeremy Smith, program director for IA Navigator. “We are really urging people to look at the new plans and prices that are being released this year. In a lot of cases, the plans are more affordable than we have ever seen. Even if you have looked into insurance on the Marketplace in past years and were not very happy, you should definitely look into it again this year.”
IA Navigator is a federally funded, non-profit organization that helps families and other underserved communities gain access to health coverage options through the Marketplace, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. It can assist with enrollment applications and help consumers receive financial assistance through HealthCare.gov.
Residents can reach IA Navigator by calling (515) 978-9570 or visiting acanavigator.com. Illinois residents can access Healthcare.gov and search by their zip code.
