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February is American Heart Month

General Information, Health Resources

When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same. 


WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

Each February, NHLBI and The Heart Truth® celebrate American Heart Month by motivating Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease. Focusing on your heart health has never been more important. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. President Biden’s Proclamation external link on Heart Month 2021 addresses heart disease as a leading cause of death in the U.S. and the ongoing fight to protect #OurHearts.

Research shows that we’re more successful at meeting personal health goals when we join forces with others. When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same. Inspire and motivate yourself and those you love to make heart health a regular part of your self-care routine.

Start Planning and Get Involved! Download this American Heart Month Planning Checklist for practical steps for planning your outreach efforts and activities, to run from December 2020 through February 2021. Share post from The Heart Truth Facebook external link and Twitter external link accounts or create your own using these social media resources and don’t forget to use #OurHearts and tag us in your posts!  Find additional resources such as fact sheets, animated GIFs, drop-in articles, National Wear Red Day® (Feb. 5, 2021) resources and more in our American Heart Month outreach toolkit.

 

 

February 22, 2021
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COVID-19 Relief Package Includes Expansion of Health Care Coverage

ACA, News
Read more
February 18, 2021
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As Biden Reopens ACA Enrollment, Are You Eligible To Sign Up Or Switch Health Plans?

ACA, News

For people who’ve been without health insurance during the pandemic, relief is in sight.

In January, President Biden signed an executive order to open up the federal health insurance marketplace for three months starting Monday so uninsured people can buy a plan and those who want to change their marketplace coverage can do so.

Consumer advocates applauded the directive. Since 2016, the number of Americans without health insurance has been on the rise, reaching 30 million in 2019. The economic upheaval caused by the novel coronavirus has made a bad situation worse, throwing millions off their insurance plans.

Biden’s move is in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s approach. As COVID-19 took hold last spring and the economy imploded, health experts pleaded with the Trump administration to open up the federal marketplace so people could buy insurance to protect themselves during the worst public health emergency in a century.

The administration declined, noting that people who suddenly found themselves without coverage because they lost their jobs were able to sign up on the marketplace under ordinary rules. They also cited concerns that sick people who had resisted buying insurance before would buy coverage and drive up premiums.

The Biden administration is promising to spend $50 million on outreach and education to get the word out about the new special enrollment period. That’s critical, experts say. Though the number of people signing up for Affordable Care Act plans has generally remained robust, the number of new consumers enrolling in the federal marketplace has dropped every year since 2016, according to KFF, corresponding to funding cuts in marketing and outreach. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)

“There are a lot of uninsured people who even before COVID were eligible for either hefty marketplace subsidies or for Medicaid and not aware of it,” says Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. A marketing blitz can reach a broad swath of people and hopefully draw them in, regardless of whether they’re uninsured because of COVID or not, she says.

Here are answers to questions about the new enrollment option.

And here you can get started shopping and comparing Available Health Insurance Plans >>

Q: When can consumers sign up, and in which states?

The sign-up window will be open for three months, from Monday through May 15. Uninsured residents of any of the 36 states that use the federal healthcare.gov platform can look for plans during that time and enroll.

Nearly all of the states and the District of Columbia that operate their own marketplaces are establishing special enrollment periods similar to the new federal one, though they may have somewhat different time frames or eligibility rules. In Massachusetts, for example, the sign-up window remains open until May 23, while in Connecticut, it closes March 15. Meanwhile, Colorado has reopened enrollment in its marketplace for residents who lack insurance, but most people already enrolled in one of the state’s marketplace plans won’t be allowed to switch to a different plan until the regular open enrollment period in the fall.

At this point, only Idaho has not announced plans to reopen its marketplace for enrollment, says Corlette. It may yet do so, however.

Q: Can people who lost their jobs and health insurance many months ago sign up during the new enrollment period?

Yes. The enrollment window for people in states that use the federal marketplace is open to anyone who is uninsured and would normally be eligible to buy coverage on the exchange (people who are serving prison or jail terms and those who are in the country without legal permission aren’t allowed to enroll).

People with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level (about $51,500 for one person or $106,000 for a family of four) are eligible for premium tax credits that may substantially reduce their costs.

Typically, people can buy a marketplace plan only during the annual open enrollment period in the fall or if a major life event gives them another opportunity to sign up, in what’s called a special enrollment period. Losing job-based health coverage is one event that creates a special sign-up opportunity; so is getting married or having a baby. But usually people must sign up with the marketplace within 60 days of the event.

With the new special enrollment period, how long someone has been uninsured isn’t relevant, nor do people have to provide documentation that they’ve lost job-based coverage.

“The message is quite simple: Come and apply,” says Sarah Lueck, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Q: What about people who are already enrolled in a marketplace plan? Can they switch their coverage during this new enrollment period?

Yes, as long as their coverage is through the federal marketplace. If, for example, someone is enrolled in a gold plan now on HealthCare.gov, but wants to switch to a cheaper bronze plan with a higher deductible, that’s allowed. As mentioned above, however, some state-operated marketplaces may not make that option available, so check your state’s website. You can find a list of the websites for state exchanges here.

Q: Many people have lost significant income during the pandemic. How do they decide whether a marketplace plan with premium subsidies is a better buy for them than Medicaid?

They don’t have to decide. During the application process, the marketplace asks people for income information. If their annual income is below the Medicaid threshold (for many adults in most states, that’s 138% of the federal poverty level –which works out to be about $18,000 for an individual), they will be directed to the state’s Medicaid program for coverage. If people are eligible for Medicaid, they can’t get subsidized coverage on an ACA exchange.

People can sign up for Medicaid anytime; there’s no need to wait for an annual or special enrollment period.

Those already enrolled in a marketplace plan whose income changes should go back into the marketplace and update their income information as soon as possible. They may be eligible for larger premium subsidies for their marketplace plan or, if their income has dropped significantly, newly eligible for Medicaid. (Likewise, if their income has increased and they don’t adjust their marketplace income estimates, they could be on the hook for overpayments of their subsidies when they file their taxes.)

Q: What about people who signed up under the federal COBRA law to continue their employer coverage after losing their job? Can they drop it and sign up for a marketplace plan?

Yes, people in federal marketplace states can take that step, health experts say. Under COBRA, people can be required to pay the full amount of the premium plus a 2% administrative fee. Marketplace coverage is almost certainly cheaper.

Normally, if people have COBRA coverage and they drop it midyear, they can’t sign up for a marketplace plan until the annual fall open enrollment period. But this special enrollment period will give people that option.

Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit, editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

This article was originally published on npr.org on February 15, 2021.
Written by: Michelle Andrews

February 15, 2021
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BCBS: Where to Go for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines

General Information, Individual and Family

 

BCBS Covid Testing Locations

You know when you aren’t feeling well —sore throat, achy, sick to your stomach. With the COVID-19 virus spreading quickly, this may be one time you don’t want to “just get through it.” Getting a COVID-19 diagnostic test could help you know what to do and keep from spreading it to others.

As the number of people impacted by COVID-19 in the U.S. continues to grow, it’s important to know what to do, and where to go if you need to be tested.

 A benefit of having health insurance is being able to rely on the doctors, labs, facilities and drug stores in your health plan’s network. By making sure a testing site or lab is in network, you can be confident that your test will be covered.

If you are a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas member, call Customer Service, at the number listed on your member ID card, for help finding an in-network testing site near you.

 Looking to see if you qualify for a BCBS health insurance plan?

 

What about getting the COVID-19 vaccines? Do you know when you can get it and where to go?

For other resources and information about COVID-19 and you, visit our COVID-19 website.

February 11, 2021
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