Health Care Coverage and Qualifying Life Events #TakeCareHangout

As a parent, I've become painfully aware of how much things cost: a loaf of bread, a pair of shoes, a new bicycle. Things that I would have previously taken for granted are now on my radar because it affects more than me; it affects my children.

One thing that I am grateful for is my health insurance. We are a generally healthy family, but even healthy kids end up at the doctor for yearly well-checks. Throw in a bad month of ear infections or an unfortunate trip to the ER over a scooter accident, and medical bills can really pile up. One trip to the emergency room for a broken arm or a bad ear infection could cost thousands of dollars!

Many Americans may be surprised to find that although the Open Enrollment period closed at the end of March, Medicaid and CHIP is open year-round, and special enrollment is ongoing. There are certain situations that allow people to get coverage. While there will be another Open Enrollment season in the Fall, "qualifying life events" can get people covered here and now.

These qualifying life events include situations such as getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, moving, or losing your current health insurance. The uninsured are exposed to significant financial risk from medical issues, accidents or emergencies. Many don't realize that that more than half of the uninsured could find insurance for less than $100 per month (under $50 for people under 35)?

The Ad Council has partnered with Get Covered America to help spread the word about these options. Learn more about the options under the ACA by joining the #TakeCareHangout tomorrow, Tuesday July 29, from 2-2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). You can ask your questions on Twitter using #takecarehangout or by using the chat feature within the GoogleHangout.

Today is the Day (to GET COVERED)!

A friendly and informative reminder that today is THE DEADLINE for opting into a new healthcare plan via open enrollment. Don't get fined! Head over to Get Covered to check out your options.

Don't worry: should you have a life qualifying event before the next Open Enrollment Period in October, such as a divorce, a marriage, the birth of a baby, major changes to your income or moving to a new state, you'll be eligible to make arrangements through a Special Enrollment Period.

And if you need a special dose of cuteness to encourage you:

Get Covered #MotivationMonday

I can't tell you how many times I've had to go to the doctor in the past 12 months. Between my sinus infections, running injuries, or just my annual exams, it really starts to add up! Add in that my daughters are still on their yearly check-up schedule and get sick a few times a year, and you could say that I've really gotten to know the staff at our amazing pediatrician's office. Health insurance is something I am humbled and grateful to have, especially knowing that many people in our country struggle to get quality coverage for their families. 

The cost of healthcare is on a steady rise, and until recently, many went without because they couldn’t handle fitting it into their budget. The uninsured spent years were spent avoiding doctors, letting illnesses get out of hand. What could have been an easy remedy to a simple problem becomes a debilitating because it was not assessed by a doctor. Pregnant mothers went without proper care, and college students started their adult life after graduation facing fear of medical bills.

With the birth of the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured found their sigh of relief. Now, healthcare is affordable for all. People like Mary from Texas, who went without medical insurance for over a decade and faced health consequences as a result, could finally see a doctor to address her medical needs. Health can finally become a priority again!

Under the new healthcare plans, people with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged more for having an illness or pre-existing condition, such as asthma, depression, even cancer. Many basics are covered under the new plans, including free preventive care, prescription coverage, mental health services, emergency services and hospitalizations, maternity care, as well as infant and children’s care. This is great news!

Despite the now accessible and affordable healthcare, 81% of people do not realize that the open enrollment period ends this month, on March 31. After this period closes, people will incur fees for being uninsured. Let’s avoid that! With 1 in 6 Americans not having health insurance, it’s time to spread the word and help people get covered!

A great resource is the Get Covered America website. Here, people can find local help to get enrolled, calculators to estimate what coverage may cost, as well as answers to any questions one might have about the process.

I'm motivated to let everyone know it's not too late. It’s time we start taking care of ourselves and those in our community!  Make sure everyone knows that new healthcare open enrollment ends IN ONE WEEK on March 31, 2014. Find more information at GetCoveredAmerica.org

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