With the presidential elections just a few days away, there’s a lot of talk about the future of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), in which millions of Americans are enrolled. Because of the anxiety some of you may be feeling at this time, I think this resource by Know Diabetes by Heart™(KDBH) might prove helpful.
KDBH is a collaborative initiative of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association aimed at “reducing cardiovascular deaths, heart attacks and strokes in people living with type 2 diabetes.” The list of resources they have put out will help you find information about health care coverage, food assistance and financial relief during the current Coronavirus pandemic. In this article, I deal only with enrollment opportunities for people with no health insurance or those who aren’t eligible for health insurance through their workplace or governmental program (such as Medicare or Medicaid). For more information you can visit healthcare.gov
COVID-19 Testing
Some states have opened special enrollment periods that allow people to sign up for health insurance under the ACA.
Medicine Supply
If you became uninsured due to job loss or other factors, you may be eligible to enroll in an ACA plan outside of the usual enrollment period. If a death in the family brought about a change in your income, you may also qualify to enroll.
Telehealth and Remote Care
More health providers are using telehealth to reach their patients and avoid them having to make a trip to their office during the pandemic. High-deductible health plans may waive the deductible for telehealth and other remote care services — even if not related to COVID-19. If you are on Medicare , you aren’t required to have a preexisting relationship with a provider to use their telehealth services during the COVID-19 emergency period. There is also good news for those of you on home dialysis. You don’t need a nephrologist to conduct an in-person evaluation.
Insulin costs
If you are struggling to pay for your insulin, KDBH has put together a list of manufacturers who can provide assistance and long-term resources for those who need it. Visit insulinhelp.org today.
I hope this post has been helpful to you. I know this is a difficult time for so many, but we will get through this together. If you know someone who can benefit from this post, please share it with them and if you need further assistance, support and/or encouragement, please join my Facebook Group.
Do you suffer from type 2 diabetes? Would you like to know how to control or even reverse your diabetes through proper diet and exercise? Then fill out the form below for a free discovery session. Contact me.
