Don’t delay if shopping for Obamacare
The open enrollment period for insurance via the Affordable Care Act began Wednesday, and has been trimmed in half this year to just six weeks. In most cases,
Only four providers offer ACA insurance plans in
"I'm hoping people are aware they need to talk to a counselor or come in and sign up for a plan because if you sit back and do nothing, you can't sign up until the enrollment period next year," said Janet Vrtol, a certified application counselor who works for the
The state of
Vrtol said she helped seven people research or sign up for health insurance Wednesday. One woman couldn't afford the premium increase in the plan she has this year and opted for a cheaper plan with higher deductibles and less coverage in 2018.
Even if you've signed up for insurance through the marketplace in previous years and have chosen to automatically re-enroll this year, it's wise to check for any changes to the premiums and coverage options associated with your plan, Vrtol said.
The federal government budgeted
Critics say millions of Americans will lose insurance if
"We've literally trained people who have come to us not to go to the emergency room when they have a fever," Vrtol said. "Now they know to go to their primary care doctor unless they have an emergency. The ACA is not a perfect system, but throwing the baby out with the bathwater isn't the best idea, either."
In
"Most people are simply automatically re-enrolling, so the open enrollment period really just applies to new sign-ups -- if you've lost coverage in the last year or if you've never had insurance before," said state Sen.
For those shopping for a plan, it's best not to wait until the enrollment period closes
"If you're thinking about signing up, do it now because you'll have to wait a whole year if you miss that enrollment window," he said.
Need help?
Certified application counselors can help you navigate your options for Affordable Care Act insurance coverage. Go online to getcoveredillinois.gov for a list of counselors where you live.
ACA enrollees on the
2016: 8,263
2017: 7,794
2016: 1,612
2017: 1,437
2016: 1,741
2017: 1,678
Source:
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