The “open enrollment” window to buy subsidized health care from the federal government opened Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15. Here’s the bigger news: A fix of the so-called “family glitch” means thousands more people may now qualify for cheaper insurance – but not know it.
“We’re worried that if people had checked on this program in years past, they (may not have qualified) and now they won’t come back and check again,” said Jeremy Smith, program director for First Choice Services, one of two federally funded programs that help Granite Staters navigate options and enrollment. “So we’re trying to make sure that people know that this is a special year and that they need to come look at it.”
The family glitch fix is one of three significant changes to the federal subsidized health plans. The Inflation Reduction Act extends two others enacted under the American Rescue Plan Act: more generous subsidies and no income limit to apply, meaning people who lost subsidies when their income increased even slightly will instead see subsidies taper off but not disappear.
This year’s open enrollment period is especially important because it coincides with the anticipated end of the federal public health emergency when an expected 90,800 Granite Staters will no longer qualify for Medicaid. Deputy Insurance Commissioner David Bettencourt is urging Granite Staters to check their ongoing eligibility now and sign up for federal health insurance if they will lose Medicaid.
“Anytime there is a rush to the door, it makes for a more difficult situation,” he said.
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