December23Deadline Messages
Why Health Care Coverage
No one plans to get sick or hurt, but most people need medical care at some point. Health insurance helps cover these costs and protects you from very high expenses.
Dec.23 Deadline
There’s a new way to find health insurance. New plans are available that can fit your needs and your budget.
- Consumers who buy coverage by Dec.23will have their coverage begin on Jan.1, 2014.
- All consumers not covered by an employer’s plan must select a coverage plan through Healthcare.gov/Marketplace by March31 to avoid paying a penalty for not having insurance.
How to Enroll
Consumers can learn about available health insurance options and financial assistance to help them pay for it.Navigators are available to provide in-person assistance to help consumers understand their health care coverage options and sign up for the plan that’s best for their families.
Consumers can also call [number] or visit [website] to get more information and enroll in a health care plan. [Insert story of someone who has successfully enrolled.]
The HealthCare.gov website is now up and working for the vast majority of users. Consumers are able to log on, create accounts, view their plan options and select plans through the site.
- Interest is clearly very high and each day more people are getting coverage.Even though it is still not perfect, thewebsite has improved significantly and more and more people are completing applications for affordable coverage.In states that want to make the law work, there has been dramatic growth in the number of people getting enrolled. It's clear when you look at states as diverse as Kentucky and California that the law can and will be a success. [Insert/use story of success.]
Financial Help is Available
The [marketplace] has new, affordable insurance options to meet your needs and your budget. For many, financial assistance is available.
- Many [state-ians] can gethelp paying their health insurance premiums. If you’re an individual making up to $45,960 or a family of four making up to $94,200 you likely qualify for financial assistance.
Benefits of the Affordable Care Act
All health care plans on [marketplace/HealthCare.gov] offer preventive care at no cost to you, including immunizations, blood pressure, cholesterol and cancer screenings.
As of January 2014, you won’t have to worry about risking your family’s financial well-being to pay for healthcare, or your insurance company denying coverage for a pre-existing condition or cutting off coverage because you needed health care that year. And your family will have access to low-cost health plans that will give you better, more comprehensive care.
For States That Expanded Medicaid
[State] made the responsible choice to help more working families get health care coverage through Medicaid. Even if consumers have not been eligible to enroll in Medicaid in the past, they might now be able to receive coverage. The [marketplace/HealthCare.org] can help you determine if your income makes you eligible for Medicaid and, if so, will help you enroll in the program.
For States That Haven’t Expanded Medicaid
Medicaid expansion is a huge success story, yet some governors still refuse to do what’s right.More than 5 million Americans won’t have access to health care because of governors or state legislatures refusing to accept funds to expand Medicaid. Most of the people that are falling into this coverage gap are hard-working but aren’t offered insurance through their employers.