By Julie Appleby, June 12, 2020, Kaiser Health Network.
The coronavirus pandemic — and the economic fallout that has come with it — boosted health insurance enrollment counselor Mark Van Arnam’s workload. But he wants to be even busier.
The loss of employment for 21 million Americans is a double blow for many because it also means the loss of insurance, said Van Arnam, director of the North Carolina Navigator Consortium, a group of organizations that offer free help to state residents enrolling in insurance.
Calls to the consortium have increased sharply, but he believes many more people are going without insurance and could use his help. He suspects these newly unemployed people don’t realize they have options. Years of budget cuts by the federal government have hampered outreach from nonprofit groups like the consortium, so many consumers don’t understand that policies are available to help them regain or maintain health coverage.
“Large numbers of folks aren’t getting the message,” said Van Arnam.
It’s important to remember, too, that the clock is ticking. In general, people have 60 days after they lose their job-based insurance to use that as a reason to qualify under an ACA special enrollment period.
Generally, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover families with children, pregnant women, older adults and people with disabilities. Income eligibility varies by state. Maximum income levels vary and can be restrictive in some states, but applicants should know that the additional $600 weekly in unemployment benefits Congress approved in the CARES Act does not count toward that total (although it does for ACA plans).
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