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ACA open enrollment period kicks off Tuesday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 10th annual open enrollment period for West Virginians seeking Obamacare coverage launches Tuesday, Nov. 1.

“Anybody that can’t get health insurance through a job, Medicare or Medicaid, the Market Place is a great option to be able to look at health insurance options for you and your family,” said Jeremy Smith, program director of West Virginia Navigator.

Jeremy Smith

WV Navigator is a nonprofit program that offers free assistance to West Virginia residents who are selecting a health insurance plan.

“It really does make a huge difference for people that have questions because the whole process can be so confusing and there’s just a lot of scams out there as well,” Smith said.

Among the changes this year includes a provision from the Inflation Reduction Act to extend enhanced subsidies for three more years.

“What that means is all of the plans on the Marketplace are going to be more affordable for consumers if they get a subsidy. Last year, more than 9 in 10 people in West Virginia were able to get a subsidy that helps them pay for the health insurance plan that they pick,” Smith said.

Smith said most people will be able to get a plan for $50 or less per month.

The federal government has also fixed what Smith refers to as “the family glitch.”

“If your spouse’s job offers you a plan and it’s more than 9.12 percent of your family income, you can opt out of that employer offer and you can go on the Market Place and receive subsidized coverage through there,” he explained.

Many West Virginians are currently insured due to the state’s expanded Medicaid program in connection with the ongoing public health emergency.

“A lot of folks are insured right now through expanded Medicaid, which is great, but anybody out there that still doesn’t have health insurance, we really want to make sure they check into this program,” Smith said.

The agency noted more than 23,000 West Virginians purchased health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov, the federal government’s website offering insurance plans.

For free assistance, the WV Navigator program is available by calling 304-356-5834 or visiting ACANavigator.com.

Smith said WV Navigator is partnering with Mountain Health Network to host a free enrollment event on the first day of open enrollment Nov. 1 from 12-7 p.m. at the Huntington Internal Medicine Group in Huntington.

The open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, 2023.