Many people find the frenzied pace of November and December a bit overwhelming.
School concerts, parent-teacher conferences, holiday parties and events, shopping, work deadlines, inclement weather, family visits, travel, additional church and community activities, and other events can leave individuals and families stretched thin and exhausted. If you pick up a winter cold or the flu during this period, it’s even worse.
January isn’t much better, as winter has settled in, and everyone is back to work and school after the holidays. Inboxes are full, task lists are long, and the holiday glow has worn off. Additionally, you must enroll by Dec. 23 for coverage in January.
There is one thing you can get a jump on, though. If you don’t have coverage through your or your spouse’s employer, you can create an account now and enroll in health coverage through Washington HealthPlanFinder beginning Nov. 1. Enrollment for Medicaid/CHIP and for members of federally recognized tribes runs year-round.
There are many excellent reasons to enroll in health coverage for 2016. While this won’t have the delivery of a former late night host’s Top Ten lists, I think you’ll still find it interesting.
1. For 2015 coverage in Washington, almost 78 percent of consumers received tax credits averaging $260 per person.
2. Most consumers liked their health coverage according to surveys by Kaiser Family Foundation and by the Commonwealth Fund.
3. Consumers received peace of mind according to a survey by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
4. All Qualified Health Plans cover essential health benefits, including many free preventive health services for adults, women and children.
5. Enrollment help is available locally (go to www.wahealthplanfinder.org and click on “Find a Broker” or “Find a Navigator” for local assistance information) and by phone at 855-923-4633 in a number of languages.
6. Your children can stay on your plan until they turn 26.
7. Women can’t be charged more for health insurance simply for being female.
8. No one can be charged more or be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.
9. As of the end of June, 9.9 million people were enrolled in their Marketplace plans.
10. For 2016 you can face an increased tax penalty if you fail to obtain coverage.
Open Enrollment only lasts three months, from now through Jan. 31. Two of those months are arguably the busiest of the year for many people.
Get an early start! Enroll now, relax, and enjoy the benefits of health coverage and the peace of mind it brings all through 2016!
Susan Johnson is the Region 10 director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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