(Image by 95Berlin via CC BY-SA 2.0 )
They always say you only appreciate something once its gone. I think that cliched saying is often invariably used within the context of lost love. It should always be used in the context of health insurance plans in my opinion. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 when I had a salary job (It was treated). Since becoming a freelancer, I haven’t had a health insurance plan of any kind since 2011.
I love the freedom I have as a freelancer. Still, I miss the health insurance plan that I took for granted and once enjoyed as an everyday salaried employee.
I can’t imagine what it’s like for people with salary jobs and families to take care of trying to manage life without a health insurance plan.
Life Without a Health Insurance Plan for an American Family
Based on a 2018 Census Bureau report, almost 27.5 million or about 8.5 percent of the people in the United States were uninsured.
More worrisome, the number of uninsured Americans increased by almost 2 million from 2017.
Most experts assume that this increase is due to over 0.7 percent of Americans being dropped from publicly funded health insurance plans such as Medicaid.
Because of the lack of health insurance, about 145 million Americans go to the emergency room every year for treatments that should have been handled by an urgent care clinic.
Americans lose $18 billion annually going into debt or paying out of pocket for treatments due to this lack of coverage.
For example, a case of pinkeye might cost $100 to treat with a health insurance plan and about $370 to treat via the emergency room.
There are many reasons why people go without health insurance. Many Americans are covered through employer-provided plans, which are also very restrictive about applicable dependents.
There are just as many Americans who believe they just can’t afford health insurance.
However, you may be eligible for a publicly funded health insurance plan via the Affordable Care Act of March 2010.
Go to Healthcare.gov to apply for a local health insurance exchange program relative to your home.
Additionally, you may be able to save more money from publicly funded health insurance plans with an Obamacare Feature many may not know about.
A recent report by MarketWatch revealed that members of the same family may be able to apply for different plans, via different group designations, within the same family plan. Here’s how.
How Multiple Family Members Can Apply for Different Plans
First, log onto Healthcare.gov and select a plan for 2020.
You will be prompted to select a plan for your family. Peruse each plan and look for one that best serves your needs.
As in most instances when selecting a plan, you will find online prompts indicating that your family is designated as a single group.
After you select a family plan, you should see an online icon that says, “Change Groups.” If you click on this icon, you should have the ability to designate different plans to multiple members in the same family.
After clicking on, “Change Groups,” you should see prompts that allow you to create more than one group in your plan. Applicable family members can then be assigned their own coverage group under the umbrella of the family plan.
You should also have the choice to change plans within each group if preferred.
Try This Obamacare Feature While You Can
If you or anyone you know is able to do this, please comment below. Take advantage of this Obamacare Feature before it disappears.
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
