Monday, August 12th marks 50 days until open enrollment for the new “Health Insurance Marketplace” that will allow uninsured and underinsured Texans to compare prices and buy a quality health insurance plan. Nearly five million Texans will be eligible for new benefits, but few of them know what is coming.
The Get Covered America team is working to spread the word to consumers across Texas about their health care options and let them know how they can enroll. Staff and volunteers are going door to door, talking to folks at churches and community centers, and working with partners like Neighborhood Centers, Texas Health Institute, Texas Association of Community Health Centers, and Lone Star Circle of Care to make sure every Texan is aware of the opportunity to enroll in quality health care coverage that fits their budget.
What Texans need to know:
· If you don’t have health insurance — or if your insurance doesn’t cover the care you need — starting October 1st, there will be a new way for you find a quality health care plan for you and your family through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Open enrollment starts October 1, 2013. Plans and prices will be available then. Coverage starts as soon as January 1, 2014.
· Depending on how much you earn, you might qualify for a low-cost health plan. Financial help may be available to lower your monthly costs or what you pay when you go to the doctor. To see if you are eligible for financial help, try this calculator prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
· There will be a range of plans offered so you can find one that fits your life and your budget. All of the plans offered through the Marketplace will cover essentials, like doctor visits, lab work, hospital stays, emergency room services, maternity care, prescriptions, mental health services and more.
· Under the new Marketplace, health insurance plans will be clearly laid out so you can compare coverage, rates, and options in plain, simple language without the fine print. Also, you can rest assured knowing that you and your family will be protected from the unexpected financial risk that comes with a sudden illness or broken bone.
· Best of all, no one will be turned away for having a pre-existing condition.
· You can take the first step TODAY by visiting healthcare.gov to create a personal Marketplace Account. The quick, easy process will help you find out what your options are and what information you need to gather to enroll once the Marketplace opens on October 1st.
· Visit GetCoveredAmerica.org to sign up for updates, find out what’s going on in your state, and help get the word out to friends and family.
Facts on the uninsured in Texas:
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, there are nearly five million (4,888,642 to be exact) uninsured Texans who will be able to enroll in coverage starting October 1.*
Compared to the uninsured nationally, the uninsured in Texas are:**
· More likely to be children under 19 (19% vs. 14% nationally)
· Much more likely to be Latino (50% vs. 25% nationally)
· More likely to live in a non-English speaking household (15% vs. 9% nationally)
Summary of Uninsured in Texas and Key Counties:**
Find out more:
Get Covered America is a national grassroots campaign being conducted by Enroll America – the nation’s leading healthcare enrollment coalition – to raise awareness and engage consumers about the new health insurance options available to them through the Affordable Care Act and connect them with assistors in their community who can help them sign up for the plan that’s right for them beginning in October. Find out more at GetCoveredAmerica.org
Interviews available:
Mimi Garcia is the Texas State Director for Enroll America. As a native Texan, Mimi has spent her career working to improve the lives, health, and well being of all Texans. She has worked in health advocacy, public investment, and social justice projects for over a decade. Prior to joining the Enroll America team, Mimi lead the Texas Well and Healthy campaign – a coalition campaign advocating for good policies to ensure all Texans have access to quality, affordable health care.
For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Mimi, please contact Enroll America at press@enrollamerica.org.
