Fox 17 Interviews CHRT Health Policy Analyst Ryan Bartholomew about special open enrollment period
From February 2020 to May 2020, there was a 46 percent increase in uninsured Michiganders due to residents losing their jobs during the early days of the pandemic. This means about 834,000 Michiganders newly found themselves without insurance. Via executive order, President Biden enabled the federal government to reopen the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for a special enrollment period from February 15th-May 15th “for those who didn’t sign up for healthcare during the fall open enrollment period, or lost their private insurance during the pandemic.”
In a Fox17 interview, Doug Reardon talked with CHRT Health Policy Analyst, Ryan Bartholomew about what the special enrollment period for ACA insurance would mean for Michiganders.
Bartholomew emphasizes that having health care coverage can save Michiganders dollars: “Just being hospitalized for COVID-19 can c[ost] tens of thousands of dollars and having health insurance can be what prevents individuals and families from going bankrupt.” This special open enrollment period will extend access to affordable health care.
“Nine-in-ten Michiganders qualify for additional support and subsidy through the exchange,” says Carrie Kincaid, vice president of individual markets for Priority Health. Many people will get help paying for their premiums, “plus you could qualify for the Healthy Michigan program or Medicaid expansions.”
For more information on marketplace rates, read CHRT’s Rate Analysis: 2021 ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for Michigan or go to www.healthcare.gov.