I can't tell you how many times I've had to go to the doctor in the past 12 months. Between my sinus infections, running injuries, or just my annual exams, it really starts to add up! Add in that my daughters are still on their yearly check-up schedule and get sick a few times a year, and you could say that I've really gotten to know the staff at our amazing pediatrician's office. Health insurance is something I am humbled and grateful to have, especially knowing that many people in our country struggle to get quality coverage for their families.
The cost of healthcare is on a steady rise, and until recently, many went without because they couldn’t handle fitting it into their budget. The uninsured spent years were spent avoiding doctors, letting illnesses get out of hand. What could have been an easy remedy to a simple problem becomes a debilitating because it was not assessed by a doctor. Pregnant mothers went without proper care, and college students started their adult life after graduation facing fear of medical bills.
With the birth of the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured found their sigh of relief. Now, healthcare is affordable for all. People like Mary from Texas, who went without medical insurance for over a decade and faced health consequences as a result, could finally see a doctor to address her medical needs. Health can finally become a priority again!
Under the new healthcare plans, people with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged more for having an illness or pre-existing condition, such as asthma, depression, even cancer. Many basics are covered under the new plans, including free preventive care, prescription coverage, mental health services, emergency services and hospitalizations, maternity care, as well as infant and children’s care. This is great news!
Despite the now accessible and affordable healthcare, 81% of people do not realize that the open enrollment period ends this month, on March 31. After this period closes, people will incur fees for being uninsured. Let’s avoid that! With 1 in 6 Americans not having health insurance, it’s time to spread the word and help people get covered!
A great resource is the Get Covered America website. Here, people can find local help to get enrolled, calculators to estimate what coverage may cost, as well as answers to any questions one might have about the process.
I'm motivated to let everyone know it's not too late. It’s time we start taking care of ourselves and those in our community! Make sure everyone knows that new healthcare open enrollment ends IN ONE WEEK on March 31, 2014. Find more information at GetCoveredAmerica.org
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