Picking the right healthcare plan with the best access can save you time and money.(Photo: Getty Images)
Youre living during an unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, and you just lost your employer-sponsored health insurance. What do you do?
This is a question 222,000 Michiganders may have already asked themselves from February to May this year. That figure was estimated in a recent National Center for Coverage Innovationreport, which explained the number of those without health insurance in Michigan rose from 485,000 in 2018 to 707,000 or 46% during the pandemic.
The report is not perfect, but its the closest estimate we can get right now, said Samantha Iovan, a health and human services senior analyst at U-Ms Center for Health and Research Transformation.
Iovan reviewed the reports findings and found the authors counted furloughed workers as unemployed in their analysis, even though these workers may still be receiving health coverage through their employer.
The report cited estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, which predicts temporary layoffs could become permanent.
Although it may be difficult to exactly calculate how many Michiganders are uninsured as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, a recent study from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services showed that residents are avoiding the hospital, resulting in a 62% increase in out-of-hospital deaths in some cases.
Iovan believes this may stem from the fact they lack health insurance.
Both Iovan and Anita Fox, director for Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, provided tips for those who lost their employer-sponsored health insurance and or had their work hours reduced.
Answer: Discover your best coverage option
Options include:
We are fortunate we have expanded Medicaid coverage in our state, Iovan said. More people will be eligible with job losses.
Fox advised the unemployed to actquickly if they are interested in an ACA plan.
They have 60 days for the special enrollment period under the ACA or Obamacare, Fox said. If you miss that deadline, there is an enrollment period that begins Nov. 1.
I would go to Healthcare.gov, Fox added. One good thing is you cant go into the wrong portal. When you start putting in your information and youre Medicaid eligible or eligible for a Medicaid for kids program, it will direct you that way.
Answer: Eligibility often depends on income.
Medicaid is for those with limited income. It covers "low-income families, qualified pregnant women and children and those receiving Supplemental Security Income,"according to the federal website.
Those who lose their jobs are often asked if theyd like to enroll in COBRA, which allows unemployed workers to continue their health benefits for a limited amount of time.
COBRA can be expensive, Iovan said. If they just lost a source of income, I dont see that being a huge option.
The unemployed can also choose marketplace plans, which offer comprehensive coverage, with available subsidies for those who are eligible, Fox said.
Fox believes unemployed workers should weigh COBRA against a marketplace plan.
We found in a lot of instances that with the ACA coverage, subsidies may be cheaper, she explained. Approximately, 87 percent of Michiganders are entitled to some type of subsidy.
She added, You should look into that, even if you have already gotten into COBRA.
Iovan cautions that marketplace plans can also come with an expense.
Marketplace plans can be expensive if youre not eligible for a subsidy, she said.
Answer: Determine Medicaid or marketplace plan eligibility.
Those who already have a marketplace plan canseek to adjust their current plan.
If you just lost hours and but didnt lose your job all together and you were already in an ACA plan, you might be entitled to an increased subsidy amount because of your income, Fox said.
Workers who had their hours reduced are not eligible for the 60-day special enrollment period for a marketplace plan, according to Iovan.
Unless they previously had employee-sponsored health coverage that was dropped due to not being employed full time, she explained.
But there are alternatives.
The hours decrease could make them eligible for Medicaid, which they can apply for any time, Iovan said.
Michigan is in a much a better place than other states because of expanded Medicaid coverage, Iovan said. But there are still barriers for people enrolling in health coverage right now during the pandemic.
Answer: You may be avoiding the hospital or needed treatment.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests increased by 43% and deaths increased by 62% from March 15 to May 23, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The study also found the ambulance transport of stroke and heart attack patients decreased 12% and 10%, respectively.
What that tells us is that people are not seeking care for important medical issues, Iovan said. Its scary to think about people not seeking care for things like stroke and heart attack, but thats a real possibility when people dont have health insurance.
Families without health care may also be burdened by costs and may lose opportunities to get quality care, said Fox, who added health systems too can be stressed.
We know this is a time when people may be experiencing unusual health events, Fox said. Having health insurance ensures people have a way to access care without fear they wont be able to pay the costs.
To review information on different health plans, Fox recommends viewing Michigan.gov and reviewing health information.
Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services offers a live call center Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Anyone with questions or concerns may call the DIFS toll-free hotline at 877-999-6442.
Contact LSJ reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@lsj.com or 517-267-1344. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.
Support local journalism:Subscribe to LSJtoday.
Read or Share this story: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2020/07/20/lost-your-health-insurance-during-pandemic-here-your-options/5459564002/
See the article here:
- How good is fish for your diet? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What foods have both fiber and protein? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Is There Evidence That Acupuncture Works? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What are some good fiber foods? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Can Green Tea fight HIV infection? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Quality of GNC Supplements - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- The Gene Smart Diet - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Tips for eating in a vegetarian lifestyle - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Regarding the Starting of a new diet regimen - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Thoughts on Dropping Weight - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What do doctors think about vitamin E supplements? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What herbs or supplements are commonly used for depression? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Is there a safe way to lose a lot of weight? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Diets that promise you will lose weight - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Are Fish Toxins Linked to Diabetes? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Can Plastic Surgery Help Migraines? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Weight Loss Surgery Eradicates Diabetes Symptoms - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Found: A Gene That Controls Fat Cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Sugars and Starches, what's the difference? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Improving your health with a serving of nuts? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Is Your Diet Causing You To Be Depressed? - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Placebo Effect: Magnetic Bracelet Therapy - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Does serotonin promote sleep? - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Decreased energy levels - Overeating, Sleep, Nutrition - February 1st, 2010 [February 1st, 2010]
- When will the body begin to cannibalize muscle tissue? - February 7th, 2010 [February 7th, 2010]
- Foods that are high in antioxidants - February 7th, 2010 [February 7th, 2010]
- Editorial: Reduce health care costs by cutting administrative overhead - April 1st, 2012 [April 1st, 2012]
- Health Care Winners: Centene, Onyxx - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Dan Morain: Nurses union puts politics ahead of health - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- What's next if Obamacare falls? - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Global Managed Health Care Services Industry - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Immigration Fight Echoes Health-Care Case at High Court - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Medical Centers Lead Workplace Wellness Effort - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- The next health care overhaul? Look to employers - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Capital BlueCross Hosts Community Health Care Forums Focused on Managing Costs While Maintaining Quality - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- County committee to look at area health care - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- President Obama Calls on Students to Tell Congress: #DontDoubleMyRate - Video - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Sen. Coburn: Competition in Health Care to Allocate Resources - Video - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Jesse Kelly health care - Video - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- PHC Vision Statement (short version) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- The Bioeconomy Blueprint Panel - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Providence Health Care's Vision Statement - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Department of Health and Human Services: Minority Health Blogger Townhall - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Health care worker accused of stealing identities of brain i - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Health Care Reform, Part 1 of 3 | KYVE Insiders Roundtable - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Health Care Reform: The ACA and Beyond - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Is Broccoli Like Health Insurance? - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Did Obama make a mistake on health care? - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- How Democrats Lie About Health Care - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Toobin on Health Care: This was a "judicial hissy-fit" - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- President Obama says health care law will stand - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Obama Defends Health Care Law From 'Judicial Activism' - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Obama Healthcare Individual Mandate - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- President Obama attacks Supreme Court on health care - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Raw Audio: High Court Dissects Health Care Act - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Health care on trial - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Final Day of Health Care Law Arguments Before Supreme Court - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Feds to put up $1.9B for Oregon health overhaul - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Scuttling health care act will freeze Medicare, White House warns - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- U.S. Health Care Spending High, But Quality Lags: Report - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Yes, the Health-Care Mandate Is About Liberty - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Health center gets $1M federal grant - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Health-care reform panel considers exchange options for Va. - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Hmong health care gap focus of Healthy House dinner - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Walsh-led health bill to be unveiled - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Ontario health system confusing for ailing seniors, study finds - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- 'Health Care Deserts' More Common in Black Neighborhoods - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- With federal money, Oregon kicks health care reform into high gear - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Nurse practitioners tackling more 'doctor' tasks - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Konza Prairie Health Center Receives $4.5 Million Grant - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Alberta wages hurting Sask. health care - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- House releases plan to cut growth of Massachusetts health spending in half - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Mass. House Will Unveil Bill Seeking To Rein In Health Costs - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- President Obama Welcomes the Kentucky Wildcats - Video - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- President Obama Speaks on College Affordability - Video - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- My First Job: Gene Sperling - Video - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Health-care costs worry near-retirees - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Massachusetts Institutes Health-Care Price Controls. Is America Next? - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Massachusetts Moves Toward Health-Care Price Controls. Is America Next? - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- GOP plan boosts Pentagon, cuts social programs - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]