Unprecedented layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic have experts asserting that nearly a quarter of all U.S. adults in employer-sponsored plans are uninsured. As patients and their families approach open enrollment this year, access to affordable, high-quality health coverage has a new meaning. Below are three tips for navigating the open enrollment season.
Know the eligibility timeline
You only have a limited time to research and enroll in a new health plan. This year’s open enrollment period runs from November 1 to December 15, 2020. Visit healthcare.gov for answers to your renewal questions, local support and tips for understanding the coverage option that’s right for you.
Medicare Advantage plans are now accessible to patients battling end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
In 2016, passage of the 21st Century Cures Act granted ESRD patients access to Medicare Advantage plans for the first time in history. As ESRD patients determine their needs for coverage, we encourage you to review resources from the Chronic Disease Coalition to learn more about the difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
The Medicare open enrollment season began on October 15 and ends December 7. For an in-depth look at network options, medication coverage and additional benefits provided by your local health plan, we encourage you to Dialysis Patient Citizen’s new tool: Dialysis Plan Choice.
You likely qualify for financial support
Health care coverage is expensive, but nearly nine in 10 people who enroll in a marketplace plan qualify for financial support. Tax credits and other support programs allow individuals on these plans to afford their coverage. Whether you’re buying a new plan or renewing your coverage, the Chronic Disease Coalition encourages all patients and families to looking into these savings measure.
Click here to see if you qualify for financial assistance.
