9 December 2020
It’s why U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and MNsure CEO Nate Clark hosted a virtual {discussion|conversation} Tuesday, to {urge|advise|prompt} Minnesotans in {need|requirement} of {a health care|a healthcare} {plan|strategy} to {sign up for|register for} {coverage|protection} through MNsure, the state’s public exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act. The {deadline|due date} to do so is Dec. 22, less than {two|2} weeks away. This is crunch time.
“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,” as Megan Halena, program director for Generations {Health Care|Healthcare} Initiatives in Duluth, {wrote|composed} in an op-ed in the News Tribune last month when this year’s open-enrollment {period|duration} opened.
According to a MNsure {statement|declaration} in April, all of its {plans|strategies} “cover {comprehensive|extensive|detailed|thorough} {benefits|advantages} like {doctor|physician|medical professional}’s {visits|gos to|check outs|sees}, hospitalizations, prescriptions, {mental|psychological} health services and more. … {Additionally|Furthermore|In addition}, all MNsure {plans|strategies} are waiving in-network cost-sharing for COVID-19-related diagnostic {testing|screening} and in-patient treatment.”
{If you {already|currently} have {a plan|a strategy} through the exchange and your {household|home|family} {has|has actually} experienced {a job|a task} loss, it {could|might} {alter|change|modify} your {coverage|protection} or eligibility for {financial|monetary} {assistance|support|help}.|It {could|might} {alter|change|modify} your {coverage|protection} or eligibility for {financial|monetary} {assistance|support|help} if you {already|currently} have {a plan|a strategy} through the exchange and your {household|home|family} {has|has actually} experienced {a job|a task} loss.} {Income|Earnings} {changes|modifications} {also|likewise} {should|ought to|must|need to} be reported at mnsure.org. Other {questions|concerns} about {insurance|insurance coverage} can be {answered|responded to|addressed} at the {website|site}, too.
{Need|Required} more {help|assistance|aid}? {Expert|Professional|Specialist}”assisters”are {available|offered|readily available}, {free|totally free|complimentary} of charge, by calling 651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873 {between|in between} 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. {Help|Assist} through an assister, or “navigator,” is by phone this year or {via|through|by means of} a HIPAA-compliant Zoom connection.
You’re far from alone if you {suddenly|all of a sudden|unexpectedly} {find|discover} yourself in {need|requirement} of {assistance|support|help}, as Smith, Flanagan, and Clark {pointed out|explained|mentioned}.
Some {good|great|excellent} news: this year there are more {plans|strategies} {available|offered|readily available} through MNsure for St. Louis County {residents|locals|citizens|homeowners}, as Halena {wrote|composed}. {So even if you {already|currently} have {coverage|protection} {set up|established} through MNsure, it’s {good|great|excellent} to {double check|check} that it’s the {plan|strategy} you {want to|wish to} {stick with|stick to} for 2021 {and that|which} your {information|info|details} on file is still {accurate|precise}.|Even if you {already|currently} have {coverage|protection} set up through MNsure, it’s {good|great|excellent} to double check that it’s the {plan|strategy} you {want|desire} to stick with for 2021 and that your {information|info|details} on file is still {accurate|precise}.} If you have a Qualified {Health Plan|Health Insurance} from 2020 and take no action, you will be {automatically|immediately|instantly} re-enrolled.
“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,” Halena {said|stated}, {offering|providing|using} {solid|strong} {advice|guidance|recommendations|suggestions}.
{Anxiousness|Stress and anxiety|Nervousness} and {worry|concern} are {only|just} growing as this crisis continues. Health {coverage|protection}, there in case we {get sick|get ill}, {doesn’t|does not} {need|require} to be {one of|among} {the things|the important things} we are {fretting|worrying|stressing} over. {Anyone|Anybody} in {need|requirement} of {insurance|insurance coverage} can {heed|observe|follow|hearken} Halena’s {advice|guidance|recommendations|suggestions}: This year, to “weather the pandemic,” “get {health insurance|medical insurance}– from {home|house}!”
Source: duluthnewstribune.com