10 November 2020
It goes without {saying|stating} that the pandemic {has|has actually} {changed|altered} the world as {we knew|we understood} it. Still, some things {have|have actually} {stayed|remained} the {same|exact same|very same}. While having {health insurance|medical insurance} {may|might} be {more important|more crucial|more vital} than ever, it still {may|might} be {necessary|required|needed|essential} to {sign up|register} {during|throughout} open {enrollment|registration}. In Minnesota, open {enrollment|registration} for 2021 {coverage|protection} {started|began} Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 22. If you can’t get {health insurance|medical insurance} from work, {a spouse|a partner}, or {a parent|a moms and dad}, it’s {a good|a great|an excellent} {idea|concept} to {look into|check out} {health insurance|medical insurance} {during|throughout} this time– or {risk|run the risk of} being uninsured for the year.
{A few|A couple of} things are {new|brand-new} this year.
{{First|Initially}, there are more {plans|strategies} {available|offered|readily available} through MNsure for St. Louis County {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} than {last year|in 2015}.|There are more {plans|strategies} {available|offered|readily available} through MNsure for St. Louis County {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners} than last year.} This {means|implies|indicates|suggests} that even if you {already|currently} have {coverage|protection} {set up|established} through MNsure, it’s {a good|a great|an excellent} {idea|concept} to {double check|check} that it’s the {plan|strategy} you {want to|wish to} {stick with|stick to} for 2021. If you have a Qualified {Health Plan|Health Insurance} from 2020 and take no action, you will be {automatically|immediately|instantly} {enrolled|registered} in the {same|exact same|very same} {plan for|prepare for} 2021; {many people|lots of people|many individuals} {opt|choose|decide} to “passively {renew|restore},” {but|however} it{‘s worth| deserves} {reviewing|evaluating|examining} your {options|choices|alternatives}.
Second, {many|numerous|lots of}, {many people|lots of people|many individuals} {have|have actually} experienced {changes|modifications} this year. {If you {have|have actually} {used|utilized} MNsure to get {health insurance|medical insurance} {at some point|eventually|at some time} in 2020, it {is important|is essential|is very important|is necessary} to {make sure|ensure|make certain} the {information|info|details} MNsure has is still {accurate|precise}.|It is {important|essential|crucial} to make sure the {information|info|details} MNsure has is still {accurate|precise} if you {have|have actually} {used|utilized} MNsure to get health {insurance|insurance coverage} at some point in 2020.} If {at some point|eventually|at some time} in the year you were laid off and {received|got} {unemployment|joblessness} {income|earnings}, it {is important|is essential|is very important|is necessary} those {changes|modifications} are reported or there {could|might} {potentially|possibly} be {an unpleasant|an undesirable} surprise at tax time.
{The best|The very best} {way|method} to {{review|evaluate|examine} {plans|strategies} and get|get and {review|evaluate|examine} {plans|strategies}} {help|assist} reporting {changes|modifications} is to {work with|deal with} {a local|a regional} navigator. Navigators are {free|totally free|complimentary} assisters who can {answer|respond to|address} {questions|concerns} and take you {step-by-step|detailed} through a MNsure application. You {may|might} have {worked with|dealt with} a navigator in the past at one of {several|a number of|numerous} {locations|places|areas}.
That’s {one more|another} thing that’s {new|brand-new} this year: Navigators are {currently|presently} {conducting|carrying out|performing} most {appointments|visits|consultations} {remotely|from another location} by phone or HIPAA-compliant Zoom. The {process|procedure} of getting navigator {help|assistance|aid} is the {same|exact same|very same}: Call {one of|among} the {local|regional} navigator {organizations|companies} and {set up|established} your {free|totally free|complimentary} {appointment|visit|consultation}. The navigator will then {contact|call} you at the scheduled time and the {appointment|visit|consultation} will {take place|occur|happen} from the {comfort|convenience} and {safety|security} of your {home|house}.
Navigator contact {information|info|details} can be {found|discovered} at insureduluth.org or here for your {convenience|benefit}:
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Lake Superior {Community|Neighborhood} {Health Center|University Hospital}: 218-722-9650
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{Community|Neighborhood} Action Duluth: 218-726-1665
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YMCA at Essentia {Wellness|Health} Center: 218-241-8008, extension 527
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Generations {Health Care|Healthcare} Initiatives: 218-336-5709
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WE Health {Clinic|Center}: 218-727-3352
This open {enrollment|registration}, take the {extra|additional} {precautions|safety measures|preventative measures} that will {help|assist} you weather the pandemic: Get {health insurance|medical insurance}– from {home|house}!
Megan Halena is program director for Generations {Health Care|Healthcare} {Initiatives|Efforts} (ghci.us) in Duluth.
Source: duluthnewstribune.com