Open Enrollment and How It Relates to Public Health and Prevention
No one plans to get hurt or sick, but it does happen. Even if you enjoy good health today, you will likely need healthcare access later on, more so as you get older. While researching and choosing a health insurance plan might seem overwhelming, it is worth the time to learn about the advantages of health insurance and find the right coverage.
Having the right plan can preserve your health and safeguard you from financial jeopardy. It can even benefit public health overall.
Take the first step today and mark out November 1, 2021, through January 15, 2022, on your calendar. This is the time for Open Enrollment when you can sign up for health insurance in the open marketplace. Learn more about taking advantage of 2022 Open Enrollment and how vital getting coverage is for preserving individual and public health. You can also find out what to do if you miss the Open Enrollment deadline.
Why Is Health Insurance Coverage Important for Prevention?
Health insurance expands healthcare access to individuals and families, which promotes public health in general. By sharing the financial means and health risks of large groups of people, health coverage serves to protect the insured from excessive financial burdens that result from getting medical treatment.
About 90 percent of people living in the United States have health insurance. Having adequate health coverage is correlated with expanded healthcare access and enhanced health surveillance. Conversely, lacking health insurance can have a negative impact on your health overall. Without enough insurance, you are less likely to get vaccines, fill prescriptions, or seek preventive care for chronic conditions.
In 2019, three out of ten uninsured people in the U.S. went without essential medical care because of cost. When you lack sufficient health insurance and have to pay all of your out-of-pocket costs, you might delay or go without essential care like dental check-ups and regular physical exams. Also, you may not afford the medicines that a doctor prescribes for you.
In addition to individual benefits, health insurance also advances public health by improving health outcomes, lowering medical costs, and enhancing the overall quality of life. On the contrary, inadequate coverage amplifies health disparities among population segments. More specifically, insufficient health insurance hurts minorities and vulnerable populations who are at a disproportionate risk for various chronic conditions.
What Is Open Enrollment and How Do I Enroll?
To get health insurance that preserves your health and protects you financially, you can start by learning about Open Enrollment, which takes place between November 1–December 15, 2021. During this time, you can sign up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace® at healthcare.gov.
Who Is Eligible to Enroll?
If you live in the U.S., are a U.S. citizen or legally present as a national, and are not currently serving a prison or jail sentence, you qualify for enrollment. However, you cannot use the marketplace if you are on Medicare. But you might be eligible for help paying for coverage, even if you weren’t eligible in the past.
What If I Miss the Enrollment Deadline?
If you want coverage that starts on January 1, 2022, make sure you sign up by December 15 of this year. However, all is not lost if you don’t enroll by the January 15, 2022 deadline, especially because of a life-changing event. For example, have you lost your previous coverage, had a baby, gotten married, qualified for unemployment, or moved? If so, you might still get 2022 coverage during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which still allows you to sign up for coverage.
Getting the proper health insurance coverage provides you with greater access to medical care. Don’t miss out on getting insurance coverage for 2022. Make a note of these dates:
- Nov. 1, 2021: Open Enrollment has started. Go to healthcare.gov to enroll, re-enroll, or make changes to your existing insurance.
- Dec. 15, 2021: Enroll by midnight on this date so that your coverage will begin on Jan. 1, 2022.
- Jan. 1, 2022: If you enrolled by Dec. 15, 2021, and paid your first premium, this will be your first day of coverage.
- Jan. 15, 2022: Until this date, you can enroll or change your 2022 coverage, which will begin Feb. 1, 2022.
- Feb. 1, 2022: If you enrolled after Dec. 15, 2021, but by Jan. 15, 2022, your coverage starts on this date.
Research and materials for this article were compiled, written, and distributed on behalf of the National Public Health Information Coalition. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the various authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Public Health Information Coalition or its members.
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