Tag Archive for: open enrollment

Understanding Open Enrollment

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Open enrollment is a time each year when people can sign up for or change their health insurance plans. Knowing when it happens and what your options are can help you get the coverage you need. The most common types of health insurance are Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and employer plans.

Medicaid

Medicaid, or AHCCCS in Arizona, is free or low-cost health insurance from the state. There is no open enrollment period, you can apply any time of the year. To qualify, you must meet certain rules about how much money you make, how big your family is, or if you have a disability.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health plan mainly for people 65 and older. Some younger people can also get it if they have certain illnesses or disabilities. Open enrollment for Medicare is from October 15 to December 7 each year.

There are different parts of Medicare:

  • Part A helps pay for hospital care.
  • Part B helps pay for doctor visits.
  • Part D helps pay for medicine.
  • Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a plan that combines A, B, and D in one option.

People still pay some costs like monthly fees or copays and also have an opportunity to purchase extra insurance for more coverage.

Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace has many plans you can choose from. You can sign up or make changes between November 1 and January 15. Some people can get help paying for their insurance through tax credits that lower their monthly costs.

Right now, there are talks in Congress about whether to keep extra tax credits that make plans cheaper. If those go away, plans could cost more in 2026. Even so, people should still sign up for coverage and update their plans later if the rules change.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Some people get health insurance through their jobs. The company usually pays part of the cost. Open enrollment for work plans is often in the fall, but the dates depend on the employer.

Special Enrollment Period

Sometimes you can sign up for health insurance outside of open enrollment. This happens if something big changes in your life like losing your job, moving, getting married, or having a baby. Usually, you have 60 days after the event to enroll.

Getting Started

If you aren’t sure what types of insurance you qualify for, check out Health-e-Arizona Plus or schedule an appointment with NOAH’s Community Resources team. Our team can also help you apply for assistance programs if you have lost your coverage or can no longer afford health insurance. For help with choosing a plan that’s right for you, visit Tips for Picking a Health Plan.

ACA Open Enrollment is Here!

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Having health insurance is one of the best ways to take care of yourself and your family. Whether it’s through an employer, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or a public program like AHCCCS, there are options available to fit your lifestyle. Knowing the best plan for you and your family is important and NOAH is here to help during Open Enrollment.

With open enrollment you can enroll in a health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace anytime from Nov. 1 to Jan. 16. NOAH Community Resource Specialists can provide you with information about several different options and can help you complete paperwork to see what you qualify for.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

Often referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace or Obamacare, the Health Insurance Marketplace helps more Americans have access to health insurance. If you aren’t covered under an employee plan or don’t qualify for Medicaid/AHCCCS, you can get insurance through the Marketplace. In Arizona, there are several different providers to pick from, and different plans to fit your healthcare needs and finances. NOAH’s Certified Application Counselors are available to help you understand your options and help with your enrollment in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan.

For health insurance coverage through the Marketplace, the enrollment deadline is January 16, 2024.

Other Health Insurance Options

  • Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) – AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid program. There are free and low-cost plans available for individuals and families. To qualify, you need to meet income requirements and be an Arizona resident. AHCCCS is open for enrollment year-round but does need to be renewed annually.
  • KidsCare – If parents are covered under an employer insurance, but kids are not, the KidsCare program can help! KidsCare, often referred to as CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) is offered through AHCCCS and is available for Arizona children under age 19 who meet the income requirement. Like AHCCCS, this health insurance is also open for enrollment year-round. If your family already qualifies for AHCCCS, you don’t need to worry about the separate KidsCare coverage for your children.

If you’ve recently received a letter reminding of your recertification date for AHCCCS or KidsCare, or have had changes to work, income or other health coverage, NOAH Community Resources Specialists can help with your AHCCCS eligibility and enrollment.

Enrolling in an ACA Plan During Open Enrollment

Health insurance can be complicated. Whether you are enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace for the first time, are renewing your AHCCCS plan, or have changes to your policy, it is nice to have support along the way. NOAH has trained, certified team members here to help you with 2024 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment. To schedule an appointment call 480-882-4545, or fill out the form here and select “Community Resources – Eligibility” under Type of Appointment. 

Turn to NOAH for Access to Healthcare

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Enroll in health insurance with Crystal

At NOAH, our patients are the most important thing. And for the Community Resource team, caring for patients is an often complex and very individualized job. Helping patients live healthy lives might sound like simply going to an appointment with your healthcare provider, but it starts with access to healthcare but is so much more than that.

A few things to consider:

  • What if a patient doesn’t have health insurance?
  • How does a patient without a car get to an appointment?
  • What if an appointment with a doctor is important, but the patient is too stressed because the family doesn’t have enough food for tomorrow?
  • How will a patient schedule an appointment without a computer, internet service, or other technology?

The Community Resource team helps find answers to these questions that benefit individuals and families. One of the most valuable ways to connect with patients – or future patients – is through health insurance enrollment.

Crystal, NOAH’s Community Resource Supervisor shares what to expect from her team.

Access to healthcare

“We meet people a few different ways, from the Hospital to NOAH program, patients just calling or submitting our appointment form, or from one of our NOAH providers referring a patient,” explained Crystal. “We’ve met people this past year who are without insurance for the first time, or people who are underinsured, overpaying for insurance, or those who need insurance for their children. Whatever the situation, NOAH can help find the health insurance program or resource to help.”

Crystal and her coworkers can help English and Spanish-speaking patients enrolling in:

  • AHCCCS Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
  • NOAH Discount Program
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • KidsCare
  • Health Insurance Marketplace (ACA)
  • Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Medicare Savings Program

And, the good news is that enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplace reopened until August 15th. More people can enroll if they didn’t during the fall, or if someone’s had changes in work or income and need health insurance.

“This extended ACA or Marketplace enrollment gives us an opportunity to help even more,” said Crystal. “Now the ACA gives people more options to get the care they need. For example, people might be over income for a program like AHCCCS – which is a terrible feeling – and the ACA is their only option. These people earn too much to qualify for one program, but don’t earn enough to see the doctor or specialist they need. There are more options now and we can help people find what works for them.”

If you’d like an appointment to help with your Health Insurance Marketplace (ACA) enrollment, call 480-882-4545 or complete this online form and Crystal or one of her teammates will schedule your appointment.

Access to more than healthcare

Having health insurance is so important, but so often, our Community Resource team helps individuals and families connect with other resources.

“It is really rare that we meet with a patient for one thing, and they end just getting just that ONE thing,” said Crystal. “We ask everyone a few questions that bring up other opportunities to help.”

Other services like housing needs, food assistance, and transportation for medical appointments, are just a few of the resources available from the Community Resource team.

“We have all worked with patients who are stressed over real issues like how to feed their families, or where to find a job,” shared Crystal. “Once someone meets with us, we can help them find so many other resources and even services like our NOAH counselors to help through some challenging times. We are a tight community and love helping others.”