Open Enrollment for the ACA

The majority of people with bipolar disorder will be hospitalized during their lifetime, and as much as 62% of all direct healthcare costs for bipolar disorder are due to hospital expenses.

Health insurance is crucial.

Friday, November 1^st begins open enrollment in the US for healthcare plans offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Enrollment will be open until December 15^th.

The ACA, or Obamacare, has come under fire recently.  However, it important to note that coverage is still available and mental health conditions are still covered.

And coverage still remains in force for pre-existing conditions.

New, or renewed coverage is only available during open enrollment unless the prospective insured has a qualifying life event, such as loss of private insurance from a spouse or a job.  All others must apply for coverage only during this month-and-a-half long period.

Medicaid can be applied for at any time.

Fewer people are expected to seek ACA coverage this year, as unemployment is lower and more individuals and families are covered by employer-provided group insurance than in previous years.

While rates for coverage increased dramatically over the last two years, costs have stabilized and ACA coverage costs for 2020 are expected to be very close to what was charged for similar coverage in 2019.

In some states more plans are available.

Bipolar disorder is an extremely expensive disease to treat and hospitalization is common.  It seems as if all health insurance provided in the US today has high deductibles and limited coverage for medicine.  It may seem that for day to day expenses it’s not worth it.

But the cost of hospitalization for psychiatric care or physical co-morbid conditions can be catastrophic.  As these events are so common for people with bipolar disorder, health insurance coverage must be maintained.

For information on ACA plans, or to enroll, visit www.healthcare.gov