|
Ohio’s Medicaid recipients must renew their benefits every
year or their coverage will expire after a 30-day grace
period, including those who qualified under Medicaid
expansion last year. Meanwhile, some Ohio residents may be
eligible to purchase health coverage in the Health Insurance
Marketplace and receive tax credits through a special
enrollment period ending April 30 if they didn’t have
medical insurance in 2014 or so far this year.
Certified/licensed Marketplace Navigators are available to
give free help to residents to renew Medicaid benefits or
find health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance
Marketplace. Set up under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act, the marketplace allows uninsured and
underinsured Ohioans to compare health insurance coverage
options and enroll in a plan.
Residents may be able obtain health insurance through the
special enrollment period ending April 30 if they meet
certain criteria, such as not knowing medical coverage was
required by federal law and owing federal tax fees for not
having coverage in 2014. Navigators are also available
throughout the year to help residents with getting health
coverage through the marketplace within 60 days of:
·
Losing employer-sponsored insurance.
·
Having COBRA coverage end.
·
Losing a job.
·
Turning 26 and no longer qualifying for parents’ insurance.
·
Moving from one state to another.
·
Receiving a denial from Medicaid.
·
Getting married or divorced.
·
Having a baby.
Residents of Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties who would like
free assistance from a Marketplace Navigator with renewing
Medicaid benefits or finding health coverage by the April 30
deadline can call United Way 2-1-1 to schedule an
appointment. Residents of other Ohio counties can call
1-800-648-1176 to schedule an appointment to get free help
from a Marketplace Navigator.
“We want to make sure everyone can renew their Medicaid
benefits or find suitable health insurance coverage,” said
Julie Grasson, assistant director of Toledo/Lucas County
CareNet.
Toledo/Lucas County CareNet is partnering with are you
covered?, a statewide effort to assist Ohioans with
enrolling in health coverage, and the Lucas County
Department of Job & Family Services to alert residents about
the Medicaid renewal requirement and special enrollment
period for coverage.
The partners also are holding Medicaid informational
sessions for healthcare providers and social service
organizations to get updates about helping their patients
and clients renew benefits. Healthcare providers and social
services organizations needing more information about those
sessions should contact
asutton@hcno.org.
About Toledo/Lucas County CareNet
Toledo/Lucas County CareNet is a partnership that provides
access to coordinated healthcare services for low-income
residents of Lucas County. CareNet utilizes volunteer
physicians and specialists to provide services to residents
at little or no cost. CareNet was started in 2002 as an
initiative to help Lucas County’s uninsured. Since its
inception, CareNet has served more than 27,500 Lucas County
residents at some point in time. Stay connected to CareNet
on
Twitter,
Facebook and online at
www.toledocarenet.org.
About are you covered?
are you covered?
is a statewide effort to connect Ohioans to free information
and assistance exploring their health insurance options and
enrolling in health coverage. are you covered?
receives funding from AARP Ohio, Asian Services in Action,
Interact for Health, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and
Voices for Ohio’s Children. The Health Policy Institute of
Ohio, Philanthropy Ohio and other groups provide project
management and support to the campaign.
|
