Health insurance, unemployment aim to meet challenges of coronavirus

Mar. 20--State unemployment increased in January to 4.1%, according to numbers released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce on Friday. That's a small increase from 3.7% in December, accounting largely for seasonal employees after the Christmas holiday. The rate for High Point also increased to 4.6% in January from 3.6% in December.

Unemployment rates for March affected by the coronavirus crisis won't be available until later this spring.

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HIGH POINT -- As concerns grow about the impact of COVID-19, insurance agencies and the state's employment division expect to meet the challenges brought on by sudden business closures because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Health insurance will still cover people -- although perhaps in different ways as situations change -- and unemployment benefits have been extended to help anyone whose income has been affected as a result of the pandemic.

"I waited tables for many years, and if I were in that situation today I would worry about paying rent, I guess, before I'd worry about health care," said Mark Thacker, an authorized agent in High Point for Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C. "Everything is kind of topsy-turvy right now, so we'll have to see what happens.

"But if someone loses their coverage right now, then they're not shut out from getting new coverage. They would have special enrollment for either going on a group plan through a spouse or a parent or going on a digital plan through the marketplace with the (Affordable Care Act) credit."

There are some broad generalities about possible scenarios for someone who is suddenly without health insurance through their employer, Thacker said. They can enroll through their spouse's insurance or their parents' insurance if they're younger than 26 years old. They can also enroll through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace, commonly known as Obamacare.

The tricky part is navigating the industry's finer points, said Don Hild, sales director for Blue Moon Benefits Group of High Point and an authorized agent for Blue Cross Blue Shield. For example, someone whose income has recently changed should research for the best, most affordable policy to meet their needs.

"And there are other options. There are short-term plans," Hild said. "And short-term plans are intended to get people from point A to point B. For some people, it's a good avenue so at least they know there's a major medical behind them in case they suddenly need an appendectomy or have a car accident."

Meanwhile, the N.C. Division of Employment Security received 17,874 claims between Tuesday at noon and Thursday at 10 a.m. -- well above the average of about 3,000 per week -- division spokesman Larry Parker said in an email. The number of people accessing the claims system online also skyrocketed from about 6,000 a day to 39,395 on Tuesday and 68,572 on Wednesday.

That's after Gov. Roy Cooper announced changes Tuesday that allow anyone whose income has been affected by COVID-19 to apply for unemployment. The division instructed people to note on their application that they are seeking benefits because of COVID-19.

The changes encompass full-time and part-time workers, although anyone eligible for employer-paid time off should opt for that.

The normal one-week waiting period to apply, the requirement to search for new employment and employers' charges have also been dropped. And the division is encouraging all in-person applications and appointments to instead take place either online at des.nc.gov or over the phone.

[email protected]

336-888-3526

@HPEmichael

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