Under 30? Chances are you’re not paying much attention to Open Enrollment. So say the wonks, anyway.
But we’d like to encourage you to prove them wrong. There are plenty of reasons for young people to pay attention to when they can enroll in or change their health insurance plans. And for all Obamacare health insurance plans, that’s right now. (Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, specifically.)
Here’s why Open Enrollment matters to you:
You’re over 26. Under the ACA (or Obamacare, as you might call it), you’re covered under your parents’ health insurance until you’re 26 years old. Be careful; It can be easy for that date to sneak up on you if you’ve never had to buy health insurance before! If you’ve turned 26 and been dropped from your parents’ plan, this is the only time all year you can to enroll in a new individual plan if you’re not covered by your employer.
You live in North Carolina and were covered by an Aetna or United Healthcare plan this year. Two of the three Obamacare insurance carriers in North Carolina have pulled out of the exchange for 2017, most recently Aetna. In much of the state, you’ll need to enroll in a new plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina if you were previously covered under one of the departing two insurers. If you live in Chatham, Johnston, Nash, Orange or Wake Counties, Cigna is offering ACA plans for you to consider.
You’re healthy. You want to stay that way, right? Right. Which is why you need preventive care like regular doctor checkups and vaccines. Under Obamacare, preventive care like this is covered by your health plan. Everyone else wants to feel as young as you do right now — trust us. So let’s keep you feeling that way so the rest of us can be jealous.
You’re not healthy. If you’re worried that you can’t get health insurance because of a pre-existing condition…don't be. Under Obamacare, conditions like diabetes or chronic pain can’t exclude you from coverage. Get covered, and get some help.
Accidents happen. Your healthcare needs can be unpredictable. You could slip and break your wrist, get appendicitis or, heaven forbid, come down with something much worse. Hospital bills could end up making your student loans look like chump change. Insurance coverage can offer you peace mind and financial stability in those unpredictable situations.
So what do you do to sign up for an Obamacare plan in NC? It’s easy. Just go here.
Other questions about healthcare? That’s what we’re here for. Join us to stay up with the latest healthcare news in North Carolina and find out about legislation that could affect YOUR costs.
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