130,000 lost insurance during pandemic
At the peak of the COVID-19 induced job loss crisis, an estimated 130,000 West Virginians lost their employment-based health insurance.
While those numbers have since come down significantly, Workforce West Virginia estimates that total employment in the state is down by about 45,000 since this time last year.
With that in mind, West Virginia Navigators, West Virginia for Affordable Health Care and the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy want West Virginians to know that open enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage opens today and runs through Dec. 15 at healthcare.gov.
Jessie Ice, executive director for West Virginians for Affordable Health Care said all ACA plans guarantee coverage of prescription drugs, pediatric services, preventative checks, emergency services, hospitalizations, addiction/mental health services, pregnancy and newborn care, ambulatory services, lab work and rehabilitation services.
“Those are things that any plan you get on healthcare.gov will provide. They must provide that at a bare minimum,” she said, noting preexisting conditions are also covered.
Kelly Allen, executive director for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 63% of West Virginians who lost coverage due to COVID-19 are eligible for Medicaid and another 23% are eligible for financial assistance through the ACA marketplace.
“Amid an ongoing pandemic and the start of flu season, it’s more important than ever to have coverage, even if you’re healthy right now,” Allen said.
Ice said the Texas-led challenge of the ACA’s constitutionality will be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States Nov. 10.
“That’s a lawsuit that’s threatening to repeal, or knock down in some ways, the Affordable Care Act. What this means for open enrollment and for health insurance through healthcare.gov for 2021 is nothing. It does not affect our options this year. It does not affect if you were to sign up on the marketplace or your coverage for 2021,” she said. “Do not let that deter you from getting a marketplace plan this year. They will be honored through 2021, regardless.”
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