Affordable Care Act Enrollment Is Now Open

"I really didn't think that I needed any help," said Joellen. "I told Claire that I had signed up for the ACA in January of 2021, and that I thought I had filled everything out correctly. She asked if I would mind if she could be my second pair of eyes. I said yes, but I didn't think anything would come of it."

With Claire's help, Joellen kept her original plan but paid significantly less.

"Before I talked to Claire, health care was my biggest expense," Joellen said. "But after I spoke with her, I was paying close to $10,000 a year less."

The Healthcare.gov Marketplace's Open Enrollment Period is now. People throughout the country can sign up for quality, affordable health insurance for 2022, but they must act before the Jan. 15, 2022 deadline.

Because of the American Rescue Plan, people are seeing significantly reduced monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs. During the Special Open Enrollment Period that ended in August, 2.8 million people took advantage of these new savings with more than half of them finding plans for $10 or less per month.

"Not only have the savings been extended, we are seeing people secure zero-dollar and $10/month plans," said Shannon Cornelius, Pisgah Legal's health justice program director said. "Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, people who never qualified in the past are finding quality,

af fordable plans, and we are thrilled to help them get coverage for themselves and their families."

Pisgah Legal Services is a nonprofit organization that, since 1978, has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs including preventing homelessness, stopping domestic violence and securing health care. Last year, Pisgah served more than 20,000 people across the mountain counties.

Pisgah Legal is among the nonprofit partners in Western North Carolina giving free, unbiased health insurance information and enrollment assistance in the NC Health Insurance Marketplace.

Pisgah Legal is based in Asheville and has other regional offices including one in downtown Rutherfordton.

Trained navigators are prepared to offer assistance at no cost, for those who want help reviewing their plans and signing up. Appointments may be made at pisgahlegal.org/aca or by calling 828-210-3404.

The open enrollment period is longer this year (until Jan. 15), but signing up before Dec. 15 will secure a plan that starts Jan. 1, securing coverage for all of next year.