Having access to affordable health insurance coverage can have an impact on your health and wellbeing today and in the future. While many women get their coverage through their employers, so many go without coverage each year. Going without coverage can impact a woman’s ability to get screening, diagnosis and treatment for breast and other cancers, HIV, and a host of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma that can be controlled through medications. The Black Women’s Health Imperative knows that so many of the disparities between the health outcomes between Black women and other groups come because of lack of access to medical care.
If you do not have health care coverage now, you have just a few days to get enrolled through the individual marketplace. Open Enrollment on Sunday December 15, 2019.
Go to healthcare.gov, the federal marketplace website, to start your search for insurance for 2020. If you are enrolled for 2019 and don’t do anything, you will automatically be reenrolled in your current plan, unless that policy is no longer available. In that case, you will be placed in the most similar plan available.
If you live in the following states you have a little more time to enroll. But don’t wait too long.
- California — Jan. 31
- Colorado — Jan. 15
- District of Columbia — Jan. 31
- Massachusetts — Jan. 23
- Minnesota — Dec. 23
- New York — Jan. 31
- Rhode Island — Dec. 31
Do your homework and find out what you need in terms of coverage in 2020 and explore your premium options to get the right plan for you. If you are confused or having difficulty enrolling, www.healthcare.gov can provide assistance. For those who prefer the phone to an online experience, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Call (800) 318-2596.
Don’t miss your opportunity to get health insurance coverage. #getcovered