Healthcare advocates want Illinois' LGBT community to know there is one other advantage to marriage equality taking effect in Illinoisgetting married is an opportunity for uninsured persons to acquire insurance via the Health Insurance Marketplace ( HIM ).
"A special enrollment period is triggered by a life-changing event, such as having a baby, a new job, or getting married," said David Elin, Illinois state director of Enroll America, a nonprofit organization focused on helping uninsured people access health insurance.
The Marketplace's primary enrollment period closed at the end of March, but persons getting married may have 60 days in which to get coverage lined up.
"We encourage anyone who has had a life changeor thinks they might have had oneto go to our website and see what works best for you," Elin said. "Our mission is to maximize the number of people who take advantage of the health insurance marketplace."
The Marketplace, which began with a number of high-profile computer glitches and widely reported consumer confusion last year, eventually contributed to the Obama administration exceeding its goal of 7 million newly insured Americans. All Marketplace plans cover essential medical services, including check-ups, emergency room visits and prescriptions, and nobody can be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.
About 217,000 Illinoisans signed up on the Marketplace during its open enrollment period, according to Elin. Furthermore, many others were able to access Medicaid benefits thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
"Lack of information is really still the biggest impediment," he added. "Many people do not know that financial assistance might be available through the form of subsidies or tax breaks." According to Enroll America, about 77% of persons utilizing the Marketplace accessed some means of help for covering their premiums.
Enroll America is active in 11 states. Elin said that consumers still looking for coverage because of a life-changing event should visit their website ( www.getcoveredamerica.org ). An online tool there can help locate a counselor who can assist in navigating the Marketplace. Other events that can trigger the 60-day enrollment period include adoption, divorce, aging off a parent's plan or losing employer coverage.
"This is a good opportunity for folks who have been shut out of the system to get onto a plan," Elin said.