General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObamaCare deadlines
The whole idea of a "deadline" in the news made me wonder what this means to people who need to buy insurance after such a deadline passes. I contacted the health care website and found out that the deadline to buy new insurance is March 31, 2014. After this, one would need to wait until the next open period, which is in October of next year. WTF? So what if someone needs to get new insurance between those months? I asked this question and was told that emergency services are always available and that people who can help to pay should do so. It was a form letter reply on the chat window that was of no real help. People need to buy health insurance all year round, not just from October to March. What if you're on Medicaid and get a job but need to buy your own insurance? What if you get laid off and go into self-employment and need to buy your own insurance? What if you move to another state and need to buy new insurance? Is this for real? Is there really a period between April and September where you need to live in a bubble in the hopes that you don't get terribly sick just because, for whatever reason, the insurance you had is no longer available??
lamp_shade
(14,796 posts)Name Unpronounceable
(39 posts)Okay, so there *are* exceptions. That's good. So if a person loses health insurance (due to a job loss or no longer being eligible for Medicaid) he or she can purchase a plan through the exchange during a "closed" period.
Why are there open periods at all? Why can't it be year round? I'm obviously missing something.
lamp_shade
(14,796 posts)Name Unpronounceable
(39 posts)Thanks lamp shade for your informative links. From what I got from the chat box on the health care website, I figured that if you need to change health plans during a non-open period, you're pretty much screwed.