Don't Have Health Insurance? What's the Worst that Could Happen?
Date: 11/03/20
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in employment for many Ohioans. During stressful times, making sure you and your family have healthcare coverage may fall to the bottom of your to-do list. But not having healthcare coverage can have a huge impact on your health and wallet.
About half of Ohioans get their health insurance through their employer,1 so for many people, being newly unemployed or taking a job that does not offer health insurance brings uncertainty about their healthcare options.
It’s important for Ohioans who have lost their healthcare coverage to know that the Affordable Care Act gives people 60 days to enroll in Marketplace coverage after a qualifying life event. Or, if your income qualifies, you may be eligible for Medicaid, and can enroll at any time of year. Enroll in a healthcare plan now to eliminate the risk of being uninsured.
Know your risk.
Like sudden job loss, healthcare challenges are often not planned. If you are worried about medical bills piling up, you’re not alone. About 76 percent of uninsured adults worry about how they will pay medical bills if they get sick; and 61 percent worry about being able to pay for routine care.2
Like 40 and 50 percent of single and multi-person households in Ohio, you may have limited funds to cover large medical expenses. Medical bills can add up quickly. More than half of uninsured people said they had problems paying household medical bills in the past year.3 Staying insured gives you peace of mind in case of medical emergencies.
Don’t Skip Important Treatment
One in five people without health insurance skip treatment because of cost.4 But, your health can’t wait. More than 4 million workers miss work each year because of illness, injury, medical problems or appointments.5
Skipping preventative care visits also decreases your chances of detecting hidden health challenges that can lead to long term and serious impacts down the road. Six in ten adults have a chronic health condition, like heart disease, cancer, lung disease or diabetes.6 These conditions can be hard to spot and require early detection and continued monitoring. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Ohio,7 but 80 percent is preventable through wellness visits and screenings.8 Many health insurance options cover preventative care at no cost to you.
I need health insurance. How do I get it?
Finding the right healthcare coverage can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Buckeye is here to help.
Medicaid offers free or low-cost health insurance coverage for those who qualify, such as individuals, pregnant women, infants and children or those with disabilities.
Medicaid enrollment is offered year-round, and healthcare services provided up to three months prior to enrollment can be covered retroactively. To learn if you are eligible and to sign up for Medicaid, visit www.benefits.ohio.gov or call 1-800-324-8680. As your guide to better health, Buckeye Health Plan wants you to make sure your healthcare is covered. When asked which plan you prefer, say “I Choose Buckeye Health Plan for Medicaid.”
The Health Insurance Marketplace option is for anyone who doesn’t receive employer-provided coverage, and it allows people to choose from multiple health insurance plans to find the right coverage.
Apply for marketplace coverage now, during open enrollment. To find out if you qualify and shop for coverage, visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). Don’t forget to take a moment to learn more about Ambetter, Buckeye’s Marketplace option.
Sources:
1 Kaiser Family Foundation - Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population
2 Kaiser Family Foundation - The Uninsured and the ACA
3 Kaiser Family Foundation - The Burden of Medical Debt
4 CDC - National Health Interview Survey (PDF)
5 US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Illness Related Work Absences
6 CDC - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
7 Ohio Department of Health - Heart Disease
8 American Heart Association - CDC Prevention Programs