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No Health Insurance? The Clock is Ticking to Apply through Healthcare.gov

Last year about 15.9 million people selected an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plan nationwide.

This time of year, Christmas receives the majority of our attention, however, the start of 2024 is just 18 days away and there are fewer than 48 hours to enroll for healthcare throughout the Federal Marketplace.

We’ll start with who exactly is eligible for health coverage through the marketplace. To be eligible, you must live in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or national or be lawfully present, and not be incarcerated.

Also, you still can sign up for coverage outside of open enrollment if you have a major life change, like a pregnancy, or qualify for CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

In addition, most people qualify for some kind of plan savings, whether it’s a premium tax credit that lowers your monthly payment and out-of-pocket expenses. And your children may qualify for CHIP, even if you don't qualify for Medicaid.

Furthermore, every Marketplace plan includes free preventive services at no additional cost, such as 14 different immunizations, HIV screening, and colorectal cancer screening.

Every plan also includes prescription drug coverage, pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care, both before and after birth, and emergency services. The deadline to apply is tomorrow.

You can apply by calling 1-800-318-2596 or by visiting healthcare.gov.

Coverage starts January 1st as long as you make your first monthly premium.

Copyright 2023 Four States Public Radio. To see more, visitFour States Public Radio.

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.