Losing Insurance and Open Enrollment
I had insurance for years, although I very rarely used it. Because the monthly payment was an ‘e-payment’ that was subtracted directly from my account, and because I could count the number of times I used the insurance in five years on one hand with three fingers left over, I was not aware that ObamaCare had kicked me out of my regular plan.
When I finally did need the insurance I had been paying for years that because of ObamaCare, I no longer had insurance, even though I had made every payment on time. When I contacted my (former) insurance company, they informed me that although, yes, I had made all my payments, that I was no longer covered because of ObamaCare. When I tried to purchase a new plan, they informed that: NOT ONLY COULD I NOT PURCHASE A NEW PLAN, BUT THAT IT WOULD BE FIVE MORE MONTHS BEFORE I WAS EVEN ALLOWED TO PURCHASE INSURANCE!!!! FIVE MONTHS.
I had insurance. ObamaCare took away my insurance. And when I tried to buy new insurance I was told I had to wait five months. I was NOT applying for a subsidy. I was trying to buy the insurance I already had WITH MY OWN MONEY and was told that I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INSURANCE NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PAYED!!!!
How does this help!
I have a medical condition that I have not been able to be treated for for over five months!
I am/was a democrat. I voted for Obama. I disagree with almost everything the Republicans stand for. But I WILL NOT vote Democrat again unless they can figure this travesty out.
How does denying people access to Health Insurance make it more accessible?
How do higher premiums make Health Insurance more accessible?
How does limiting enrollment times to 3 months a year make insurance coverage more accessible?
How can we increase the percentage of insured individuals by limiting access?
How do we increase preventative care when we telling people that they can either wait five months until they are eligible to BUY coverage?
This policy is absurdly counterproductive.
People who have previously paid for coverage and need treatment are BEING DENIED TREATMENT by the policies of ObamaCare.
Sheryl
this guy is a liar. He could have enrolled in Healthcare.gov in December during open enrollment. I lost my job – and my Cobra benefits were $1000/month for my daughter and I – with ACA – my premium is $356. Essentially same coverage- with same company. I am happy I have “Obamacare” and there are no preexisting condition exemptions.
Annie
Applied December 15, 2014 for Obamacare. Chose a plan for daughter. Paid them that same night. Have heard nothing at all from them and money was never taken out of my account. She is unemployed and needed insurance for pre existing condition. They claim no record of daughter applying. I did the applying and I paid the first month. Frustrating and incompetent people.
ObamaCareFacts.com
Your insurance company should have informed you that your insurance was being cancelled and they should not have been taking payments for a cancelled plan. This, we are sure, qualified you for special enrollment in the Marketplace. The solution was most likely simply calling HealthCare.Gov and informing them of your situation.
Open enrollment is meant to ensure that folks don’t wait until they are sick to get covered. EVERY health insurance type aside from short-term, Medicaid, and CHIP have open enrollment periods. If you miss open enrollment, there are lots of ways to qualify for special enrollment. Ideally this means only folks who truly don’t want coverage or make a choice to go without will not have the option of getting it when they need it.
We are under open enrollment now, so you simply have to go and sign up. If this happens to anyone else they simply need to bring the story to the marketplace and see if they qualify for special enrollment.
ObamaCareFacts.com
To your other points:
How does denying people access to Health Insurance make it more accessible?
Answer: Health insurance is more accessible than ever in America. Open enrollment does make it so there are only certain times to sign up, but it also helps to keep premium rates down by not allowing loopholes for getting insured only when one needs it. It goes hand and hand with the fact we had to require coverage. Special enrollment means that folks who miss open enrollment still have options.
How do higher premiums make Health Insurance more accessible?
Answer: Premium rates have been rising at alarming rates. This is true before the ACA. (Do a search for health care facts or search our site). The ACA curbs premium growth with many provisions focused on just that such as providing premium tax credits for those making less than 400% (along with expanding Medicaid in many states). In general though high premiums don’t make coverage more accessible, this is why many consider the cost of coverage and care a major root cause of our “health care crisis”.
How does limiting enrollment times to 3 months a year make insurance coverage more accessible?
Answer: Covered this one above.
How can we increase the percentage of insured individuals by limiting access?
Question: We can’t. Push your state to Expand Medicaid and push everyone to address the family affordability glitch that leaves some working families without affordable coverage. Meeting time-frames and filling out forms is part of the price of being an American, but not having affordable access to coverage and care shouldn’t be.
How do we increase preventative care when we telling people that they can either wait five months until they are eligible to BUY coverage?
Answer: Essential preventive care is free on all plans. Again special enrollment will be the answer for most who find themselves without a plan suddenly.