About 1.4 million Texans have lost Medicaid coverage so far this year as the state continues to check eligibility. Since federal pandemic-era protections ended in early 2023, more than 11.7 million people nationally have lost Medicaid coverage, according to data from the .
That鈥檚 made periods like open enrollment, taking place through January 15, even more important for Texans and the navigators who help them find health plans through the ACA Marketplace.
Daniel Bouton is the at the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, overseeing teams that help underinsured and uninsured clients find health care.
鈥淚t is a different year because there鈥檚 so many people that almost are facing a surprise factor of losing Medicaid,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the past three years, many people changed jobs, and started making a little bit more money that put them over the threshold for Medicaid.鈥�
He said his team has helped people who are self-employed and young adults who have aged out of Medicaid find coverage. Bouton said clients are often wondering how they can afford insurance plans and how to stay in-network for doctors they already see.
鈥淭here are options to apply for financial assistance through [Marketplace] to help with the cost of those premiums,鈥� he said.
Enrollment takes place this year between November 1 and January 15. To be covered starting in January for 2024, people need to submit their .
According to data from the , about 4.5 million people so far have signed up for Marketplace plans form 2024 across the country. This includes close to 98,000 Texans.
Christina Martinez in Stephenville said she often meets with clients who feel nervous because they haven鈥檛 had insurance before or aren鈥檛 sure what to expect during the enrollment process.
鈥淓ven for us navigators, there鈥檒l be something on there that we鈥檒l have to take a look at a little bit harder,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is very difficult sometimes for somebody who has never used a computer, or they don鈥檛 know anything about insurance.鈥�
Martinez said she takes it 鈥渟tep-by-step鈥� with clients and answers every question they have.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 let them leave without knowing exactly how things work,鈥� she said.
cover pre-existing conditions, like diabetes, along with routine check-ups and other health services like emergency room visits and prescriptions.
To , people will need to have tax forms, W-2s and income paperwork, and other identifying documents like Social Security numbers.
Martinez has helped families sign up for Marketplace plans after they were denied Medicaid coverage this year.
鈥淎 lot of people are uninsured,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e live in a society where it鈥檚 not fair sometimes that you age out of Medicaid, or you don鈥檛 make enough for Marketplace, so every year that this happens we try to look at what can we do better. Our goal is just to continue to help the uninsured.鈥�
Ismael Cruz, the , said it鈥檚 crucial clients 鈥渦nderstand the importance for us to have a medical plan.鈥�
鈥淸You] never know when you can have an emergency, and you have to be prepared for those situations.鈥�
People can search an online directory on HealthCare.gov to or call 800-318-2596 to talk to someone about options.
Prism Health North Texas is also hosting an on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the health center on 4004 Worth St. in Dallas.
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera at erivera@kera.org
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