The deadline to sign up for health care insurance for 2018 is fast approaching on Friday, Dec 15. With just a few days left, health officials are saying don’t wait to get covered. From emergency room visits to a regular check up, health insurance can help pay costs but that means getting enrolled for health care now.
“If you have pre-existing conditions, the day you get on this plan and if you do it now, it’d be January 1st. You’re covered for all your conditions pre-exsisting or not,” said Bruce Donaldson with the Arkansas Insurance Marketplace.
Nearly 2.8 million people have already signed up through Healthcare.gov. Only around 20 thousand of those are from Arkansas but the deadline is coming fast.
“Last year and the year before that and the year before that, we had three months. Now we only had 45 days to sign up so its pretty much scrunched up,” said Donaldson.
Donaldson suggests if you’re a new sign up, its critical to gather all your information including how much you made last year.
He says help is available to get signed up, you can see more at MyARInsurance.com and local places like Sparks Regional Medical Center are offering free assistance, seven days a week from from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to get help from staff or by calling 479-441-5662.
“Sparks can help people select plans makes sure they know what physicians are available say they have small children we have ENT available,” said Spark Health System CEO Dan McKay.
If you’re worried about cost, for those who make under $47,500 dollars, help is available through tax breaks to pay premiums, that’s nearly 75-80% of Arkansans.
Local doctors say if you have insurance for 2017, don’t waste time using it before the year is over as well.
“I encourage my patients to plan early,” said Fort Smith ENT Dr. Gary Highfill. “This is a good time of year to get in and see your doctor if you already met your deductible.”
If you don’t sign up by the Dec. 15th cut off, you’re out of luck until 2019 or a life change like a new job, birth or marriage and could face penalties during tax time.
And in these final days millions of people are expected to procrastinate signing up.
“Anything can happen. They could lose internet access. Anything can happen, I urge people to not wait until the last minute and start the process,” said Donaldson.
Date: Dec 10, 2017