CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There could be a record number of people who sign up for health insurance coverage this year through the Affordable Care Act.
The enrollment deadline is Sunday for anybody that can’t get health insurance through their job, Medicare or Medicaid.
Jeremy Smith, program director of West Virginia Navigator, told MetroNews Tuesday it’s been a good year for the Market Place health coverage plan. He said they’re available to help take the pressure off West Virginians interested in signing up.
“We will sit down with somebody and talk about the deductibles, co pays, make sure your doctors in that network and make sure your medicines are going to be covered,” Smith said.
Smith said they’re offering their services in person and over the phone this week.
“We help with application assistance to make sure you get your applications filled out correctly and we also certify as navigators to be able to help people pick a health insurance plan that’s going to be best for them and their families,” he said.
The big change for the 2023 is the affordability, Smith said. There’s a provision from the Inflation Reduction Act that extends enhanced subsidies for three more years.
“What we’re seeing this year is more than 9 in 10 people qualify for a subside and after that subside is implemented on to the plan you pick out, most people can get a plan for less than $50 a month starting out,” he said.
The federal government has also fixed what Smith refers to as “the family glitch.”
“They’ve finally created an affordability test, so if the price of the plan through your employer or through a spouse’s employer costs too much, you can opt out of that plan and be able to get a plan on the Market Place,” Smith said.
For free assistance, the WV Navigator program is available by calling 304-356-5834 or by visiting ACANavigator.com. In-person appointments can be made at offices in Charleston, Huntington, Fairmont and Martinsburg.