It’s Time To Check On Your Health Insurance!

Blue and white medical symbol on a red background with text: "2019 Open Enrollment November 1 - December 15"

2019 Open Enrollment Begins November 1, 2018

 

November 1, 2018

If you’re uninsured or looking for more affordable health insurance, the “open enrollment” period is the time to visit healthcare.gov, or your state’s marketplace or health insurance exchange. During “open enrollment” you can review private health insurance options and purchase coverage. People with low and moderate incomes may be able to get financial help to pay for health insurance coverage. This includes help with the cost of premiums and possibly also reduced cost sharing, depending on your income. If you get health insurance through your employer, Medicaid, or Medicare, you are not eligible for this assistance.

 

2019 Open Enrollment

  • November 1, 2018 – Open enrollment begins
  • December 15, 2018 – Open enrollment ends
  • January 1, 2019 – Coverage begins

 

For many people, open enrollment is the only time to change insurance plans or buy new coverage during the year. However, you can sign up for insurance outside of open enrollment if you lose your job, get married, divorced, have a baby, or experience another major life event. You may also enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) year-round.

 

Do all states have the same open enrollment dates?

Most states have enrollment periods from November 1 to December 15, but some states have longer enrollment periods. States with extended open enrollments periods are:

  • California: Oct. 15, 2018 – Jan. 15, 2019
  • Colorado: Nov. 1, 2018 – Jan. 15, 2019
  • Washington, DC: Nov. 1, 2018 — Jan. 31, 2019
  • Massachusetts: Nov. 1, 2018 – Jan. 23, 2019
  • Minnesota: Nov. 1, 2018 – Jan. 13, 2019
  • New York: Nov. 1, 2018 — Jan. 31, 2019
  • Rhode Island: Nov. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018

 

If you have a disability or a health condition, plan details and any annual changes matter. Be sure to ask before you select a plan:

  • Are a broad range of health care providers included in the health plan’s provider network?
  • Are there enough medical specialists in the network to meet your specific needs?
  • Are the medications you need included in the plan’s list of covered drugs? Has the cost sharing changed? Are there other requirements like prior authorization?
  • Is there adequate access to non-clinical, disability-specific services and supports?
  • Does the plan have service limits, such as caps or limits on the number of office visits, the amount of therapy services, or exclusions for medical devices?
  • Are mental health services covered to the same extent as other “physical” health benefits?

This year, there will be plans for sale in some states that are NOT required to provide all of the benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act. These plans may be able to charge you more if you have a pre-existing condition, and may not offer adequate coverage for your needs or if you get sick. It is more important than ever to thoroughly review what benefits a plan offers and not only look at plans with low premiums.

 

I already have health insurance through the Marketplace. Do I need to do something?

  • It is important to update your income and household information in the Marketplace to make sure you get all the assistance available to you.
  • This is also a good time to check your health insurance coverage and see if it still meets your healthcare needs.
  • If a new plan does not cover your providers or services, investigate your right to change plans.
  • You should carefully read all health insurance notices and updates.
  • If your income has increased, updating your information with the Marketplace will help avoid payment penalties later.

 

I and/or my family members are uninsured. Can we sign up?

Most individuals can get health insurance coverage regardless of pre-existing health conditions or prior denial of coverage. Just go to healthcare.gov, enter your information, and review insurance options. Each plan should provide information on monthly premiums, deductibles, provider networks, hospitals, and covered medications. Only individuals who live in the United States and are U.S. citizens, nationals, or non-citizens who are lawfully present, and are also not currently incarcerated, may apply. If you were uninsured during the prior year, you may be subject to a state fee for not having coverage.

 

Where can I go to get help?

Purchasing health insurance can be complicated. If you or your family member needs assistance with understanding the options, healthcare.gov can help. Each state has health insurance “navigators” to help people enroll in health insurance plans. Individual health plan information should be available in late October 2018 on the healthcare.gov website. If you would like more information on specific topics, the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative has a comprehensive set of materials available on disability issues and the Affordable Care Act.

Website: www.healthcare.gov

Phone: 1-800-318-2596 (Available 24/7 with access to 150 languages)

TTY: 1-855-889-4325

In-Person Assistance Resources: localhelp.healthcare.gov

 

* * *

This post was developed with content provided by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

How Healthcare is Oppressing with Disabilities

October 30, 2018 | Angelique Long, 2018 AAPD Summer Intern

I’m a walking medical textbook. I have over a dozen diagnoses, with nearly half of them being rare. I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of doctors in my lifetime and have fought my body to stay alive on more than one occasion. For now, I am able to have a life and function relatively well with the assistance of a fantastic team and an impressive list of pharmaceuticals. I have fought a long, hard battle to get where I am today. But recently, all of that was threatened.

I proudly acknowledge the reason I am alive today is because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); I was able to stay on my parents’ insurance plan longer and I didn’t have to worry about pre-existing conditions. There is no doubt that the ACA was, and still is, a revolutionary movement in our nation. However, with the lack of support in 18 states, millions of Americans fall in what is now known as the coverage gap. This gap consists of poorer individuals living in those states that have opted to not expand Medicaid and that do not qualify for their state’s existing Medicaid program.2

I have recently found myself among the millions of Americans in the coverage gap, as Missouri, my home state, has not expanded Medicaid. I was aging out of my parents’ plan, and, because of the confusing language of healthcare, I would soon find myself without medical coverage. I went on the marketplace to see what they might have to offer me, like we are so often advised to do, and was told that I didn’t make enough money to enroll in any of their plans. They told me, in the most impersonal way possible, that because I live in a state that hasn’t expanded Medicaid, I couldn’t get a comprehensive health plan. As I have already mentioned, I would not be here today if it weren’t for my insurance. I was terrified – I didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to get any.

Despite all of that, I am one of the lucky ones. After resolving some miscommunications, my parents’ insurance provider deemed me completely and permanently disabled. They decided that I am not able to hold gainful employment, and that therefore, they will keep me on. But not without stipulations:

  • I must maintain this disabled status;
  • I cannot make more than $10,000 a year;
  • My address has to remain at my parents’ residence.

Though this is a fantastic temporary fix and I am grateful for it, I don’t want to be stuck in forced poverty my entire life.

Disabled people want to work. Disabled people want to live independently. Disabled people want to live a productive life. But, for some reason, our government sees us as invalid. Things such as not expanding Medicaid put us in a box: either apply for disability or don’t have access to healthcare. Either way, we are limited in our ability to function or lead a gainful life.

I’m a daughter and an aunt. I’m a student and a volunteer. I’m a mentor and an intern. Don’t ever make me just another statistic.

 

* * *

Angelique Long is a 2018 AAPD Summer Intern. She interned with Families USA.

Action Alert! Tell Your Senators to VOTE NO on Kavanaugh

National Call-In Day Today

September 14, 2018

Last week’s confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh did nothing to allay concerns that if he were appointed to the Supreme Court, he would pose a threat to the hard-won rights and protections for people with disabilities. If the Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination (which is expected to happen), then his nomination goes to the full Senate for a vote, expected to happen in the next few weeks.

Judge Kavanaugh’s record indicates that he devalues the lives and liberty of people with disabilities. His confirmation would place at risk access to health care and civil rights protections for people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives, and the ability of executive branch agencies to interpret and enforce laws protecting people with disabilities.

What We Learned at Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearing

During his hearing, Judge Kavanaugh refused to answer even basic questions concerning his views on important issues, and repeatedly refused to say that he would uphold the Affordable Care Act’s protections.

Liz Weintraub, Senior Advocacy Specialist at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), testified about her concerns that Judge Kavanaugh has shown a lack of respect for the self-determination rights of people with disabilities. “If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed,” said Weintraub, “I’m afraid that my right to make decisions for myself will be taken away.”

Jackson Corbin, a 13-year old boy with complex medical needs due to Noonan’s Syndrome, testified about the impact that appointing Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court would have on health care.  Corbin said:  “If you destroy protections for preexisting conditions, you leave me and all kids and adults like me without care and without the ability to afford our care, all because of who we are.”

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law outlines 10 Reasons People with Disabilities Should Oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s Nomination:

  • He is a threat to your health care.
  • He would allow the President to wield dangerous power.
  • He is dismissive of the fundamental rights of people with disabilities.
  • He won’t protect the rights of workers with disabilities.
  • He would narrow the protections of civil rights laws.
  • He promotes school voucher programs that leave students with disabilities without key protections.
  • He discounts the role of the administrative agencies that enforce your rights.
  • He would allow states to impose restrictive voter ID laws.
  • He imposes barriers for people seeking justice in courts.
  • He will not fairly protect the rights of all people, including people with disabilities.

The Bazelon Center also released a thorough review of Judge Kavanaugh’s record and its implications for the disability community.

 

Take Action

The full Senate will soon vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.  All Senators need to hear from the disability community, but it is especially important for advocates in Maine (Susan Collins), Alaska (Lisa Murkowski), Indiana (Joe Donnelly), Alabama (Doug Jones), North Dakota (Heidi Heitkamp), West Virginia (Joe Manchin), and Nevada (Dean Heller) to contact your Senators. However, it is only helpful to contact your own Senators.

Here’s what you can do:

Email and Tweet your Senators

Use the advocacy tool below to send an email and tweet directly to your Senators to tell them to oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.

Be sure to connect your Twitter account to use the social media outreach feature of this tool.

 

Call your Senators – National Call-In Day on September 14th

Participate in the September 14th National Call-In Day to amplify efforts around the country. Call Senators through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators. Use Contacting Congress to easily identify your Senators.

 

Sample Call Script:

My name is [your full name]. I’m a constituent of Senator [Name] and I live in [your town]. I’m calling to ask the Senator to VOTE NO on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Judge Kavanaugh’s record indicates that he devalues the lives and liberty of people with disabilities like  [me / my family member/ my friends]. His confirmation would endanger access to health care and civil rights protections for people with disabilities, opportunities for people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives, and the ability of executive branch agencies to interpret and enforce laws protecting people with disabilities.

Please VOTE NO on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Thank you for taking my call.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied]

 

 

Background Materials on Kavanaugh and Disability

 

Opposition Statements

 

* * *

This alert was developed with content provided by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

The Supreme Court and Retaining Our Civil Rights

September 12, 2018 | Elijah Armstrong, 2018 AAPD Summer Intern

With the recent retirement of Justice Kennedy and the resulting nomination of judge Brett Kavanaugh, many people are concerned about the rollback of numerous hard fought rights. Specifically, judge Kavanaugh has considered the individual mandate section of the ACA to be unconstitutional multiple times, and as a Supreme Court Justice, his vote on this matter could easily end the individual mandate nationwide. I looked into judge Kavanaugh’s voting history and found myself increasingly frustrated; how could a man who hasn’t experienced the difficulties of living with a disability shamelessly and consistently vote down protections for disabled people? Then it occured to me; I don’t think any of the Supreme Court Justices have disabilities.

Our right to employment, our right to access public spaces, our right to healthcare, and our right to an education are constantly being put in the hands of nine people who have never had to experience these issues first hand. In fact, the Census has found that almost one in five people has a disability; shouldn’t at least two of the justices have disabilities?

People with disabilities aren’t very well represented in the federal government, but are completely unrepresented in one of the three branches of government. Excluding people with disabilities isn’t a bug of the Supreme Court nomination process; it’s a feature. Since justices serve for life, politicians and pundits constantly speak about appointing young and healthy judges, so they will have a long influence on the Court. This rules out most people with disabilities from having the potential of being a Supreme Court Justice, despite their disability not inherently making them unqualified as judges. I would even suggest people with disabilities might make for better Supreme Court justices in some cases. People with disabilities typically have firsthand experience with the struggle of facing systemic discrimination, as well as a deeper understanding of the disabled community.

One of the biggest cases where having a member of the disabled community on the Supreme Court would be in cases like Bragdon V. Abbott. A case was brought in front of the Supreme Court to determine whether or not people with HIV were covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A ruling against people with HIV being covered by the ADA could have established the precedent that institutions have the right to discriminate against people with disabilities for religious reasons, and that people with chronic illness were not covered by the ADA. Luckily, the Supreme Court understood the ramifications of this decision and ruled, in a narrow 5-4 decision, that people with HIV are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, with the majority opinion being authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Justice Kennedy is likely soon to be replaced by a man who believes the ACA’s individual mandate would “ultimately force mandatory purchases of other products.” We need to make a strategic and deliberate effort to get more people with disabilities into federal courts.

 

* * *

Elijah Armstrong is a 2018 AAPD Summer Intern. He interned with the Office of Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

Action Alert! National Call-In Day: No Tax on Disability! (Take Two)

December 10, 2017

The House and Senate each passed their own version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which means that now a conference committee must work out the differences between each bill to produce a final version. The private House and Senate Conferences will be meeting all week. A three hour meeting between the House and Senate Conferences is scheduled for December 13, 2017.

Senate Conferees:

  • Republicans: Hatch (UT), Enzi (WY), Murkowski (AK), Cornyn (TX), Thune (SD), Portman (OH), Scott (SC), and Toomey (PA)
  • Democrats: Wyden (OR), Sanders (VT), Murray (WA), Cantwell (WA), Stabenow (MI), Menendez (NJ), and Carper (DE)

House Conferees:

  • Republicans: Brady (TX-8), Roskam (IL-6th), Nunes (CA-22nd), Black (TN-6th)), Noem (SD-at large), Bishop (UT-1st), Young (IA-3rd), Upton (MI-6th), and Shimkus (IL-15th)
  • Democrats: Neal (MA-1st), Levin (MI-9th), Doggett (TX-35th), Grijalva (AZ-3rd), and Castor (FL-14th)

 

We’re hearing that a vote on the final tax bill is not going to happen this week. This delay provides us more time to protest this bill and shows that our efforts so far have been effective. Please join us for a national call-in day tomorrow (Monday, 12/11) to tell our Representatives to oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act! We’re told that call volume on Capitol Hill has been high – keep it up!

 

National Call-In Day: No Tax on Disability!

December 11, 2017

Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 (voice) or 202-224-3091 (TTY)

Join people with disabilities, our families, and advocates around the country this Monday, December 11, for another national call-in day to oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Note: We’re hearing that advocates calling Members of Congress that are not their own are being dismissed as outside agitators and are clogging up the phone lines – Please focus on calling your own Members of Congress and encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is very close to reaching President Trump’s desk and becoming law. NOW is the time to call your Representative and tell them to OPPOSE this dangerous bill!

 

 

The Senate tax bill is extremely dangerous to the well-being of people with disabilities.

  • Tax cuts open the door for cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and other services that benefit people with disabilities. While neither the House nor Senate tax bill includes direct cuts to these services, cuts are expected to follow to offset the $1.5 trillion added to the deficit due to providing large tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Medicaid and other disability services were the target of intense cuts over the summer through the various Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal bills proposed in the House and Senate. There is no doubt that these same services remain on the chopping block to help pay for the proposed tax cuts.
  • The Senate bill eliminates the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate. The individual mandate helps make health insurance affordable. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 13 million people would lose access to affordable coverage by 2027 if the individual mandate were eliminated. Furthermore, insurance premiums would rise by 10%, which amounts to an increase of hundreds of dollars per year for nearly 7 million middle-income Americans and by over $1,000 per year for seniors, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).
  • The Senate bill benefits the wealthiest Americans while the poorest would be worse off. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report which found that Americans earning less than $100,000 a year would, ultimately, not benefit from the proposed tax cuts. According to a Washington Post analysis of the CBO report, “By 2019, Americans earning less than $30,000 a year would be worse off under the Senate bill, CBO found. By 2021, Americans earning $40,000 or less would be net losers, and by 2027, most people earning less than $75,000 a year would be worse off. On the flip side, millionaires and those earning $100,000 to $500,000 would be big beneficiaries, according to the CBO’s calculations.”

 

The House bill is also damaging as it proposes to eliminate several tax deductions and credits that benefit people with disabilities. These include:

  • The Medical Expense Deduction: This tax deduction allows people to deduct large, unreimbursed medical and dental expenses that exceed 10% of their income. Approximately 8.8 million people utilize this deduction, 70% of which have an income at $70,000 or lower. Most filings are around $10,000 by people with high healthcare costs, which largely includes people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, and other medical conditions. People are allowed to deduct expenses for a variety of expenses including treatments, surgeries, medications, and medical travel.
  • The Disabled Access Credit and Barrier Removal Tax Deduction: Businesses that accommodate people with disabilities may qualify for tax credits and deductions including the Disabled Access Credit and the Barrier Removal Tax Deduction. This credit and deduction incentivizes small businesses to make their businesses accessible for disabled people. Small businesses can claim a 50% credit per year for expenditures between $250 and $10,250 that increase access and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • The Work Opportunity Tax Credit: This federal tax credit is available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups (including disabled people who receive services from Vocational Rehabilitation, SSI recipients, returning citizens, veterans, and long-term unemployment compensation recipients) who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. The current tax credit for hiring a person with a disability can be as high as $2,400 for a business.

 

The final version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could contain any of these harmful provisions from the Senate and House bills.

While neither tax bill includes direct cuts to Medicaid or other disability services, these cuts are expected to follow to offset the roughly $1.5 trillion added to the deficit due to providing large tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Medicaid and other disability services were the target of intense cuts over the summer through the various Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal bills proposed in the House and Senate. There is no doubt that these same services remain on the chopping block to help pay for the proposed tax cuts.

 

 

Additional Resources

Action Alert! Urge Your Senators to Vote NO on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

November 17, 2017

Yesterday, on November 16, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). Now, the Senate is finalizing their own version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation was recently voted through the Senate Finance Committee, clearing the way for a vote on the Senate floor after Thanksgiving.

These tax bills are extremely dangerous to the well-being of people with disabilities.

  • Tax cuts open the door for cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and other services that benefit people with disabilities. While neither the House or Senate tax bill includes direct cuts to these services, cuts are expected to follow to offset the $1.5 trillion added to the deficit due to providing large tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Medicaid and other disability services were the target of intense cuts over the summer through the various Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal bills proposed in the House and Senate. There is no doubt that these same services remain on the chopping block to help pay for the proposed tax cuts.
  • The Senate bill eliminates the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate. The individual mandate helps make health insurance affordable. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 13 million people would lose access to affordable coverage if the individual mandate were eliminated. Furthermore, insurance premiums would rise by 10%, which amounts to an increase of hundreds of dollars per year for nearly 7 million middle-income Americans and by over $1,000 per year for seniors, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

The Senate is scheduled to vote on its Tax Cuts and Jobs Act the week after Thanksgiving.

 

We must stop this very harmful and unpopular legislation NOW!

 

Take Action

Contact your Senators and tell them to oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act!

 

What to say:

  • Please vote NO on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  • Tax reform should not be rushed. People should have time to understand the legislation and how they will be affected.
  • Services that benefit people with disabilities and low-income Americans – such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income – are in danger of losing funding to help pay for these proposed tax cuts.
  • Eliminating the individual mandate will reduce access and increase costs for people with disabilities and all Americans.

 

Call your Senators

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY) and ask to be connected to your Senator.

 

Meet with your Senators

You can arrange a meeting in Washington, DC or in your home state, depending on when Congress is in session. The Senate is planning to vote on their version of the tax bill after Thanksgiving. This provides an opportunity to meet with your Senators while they are in your home state over the holiday. Contacting Congress allows you to request a meeting with your Member of Congress. You can also check the Town Hall Project for congressional events in your area.

 

Email your Senators

Contacting Congress provides unique links to email your Senators directly.

 

Tweet your Senators

Twitter has become a powerful tool to communicate with elected officials directly. Find your Senators on Twitter and tell them to oppose these bills.

  • Senate Twitter Handles
  • The #TaxCutsAndJobsAct could force massive cuts that block grant #Medicaid and damage state programs for people with disabilities. No to #TCJA. #TaxOnDisability

 

 

Additional Resources

 

 

Our Sponsors

AT&T
AT&T
Bender Consulting Services
Bender Consulting Services
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
National Structured Settlements Trade Association
National Structured Settlements Trade Association