President Joe Biden announced the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended the special enrollment period through August 15, giving consumers under 65 years old another opportunity to enroll in health coverage. Another COVID-19 stimulus bill passed not long after the announcement, giving consumers more savings to use toward the monthly cost of health insurance.
This is a major update to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On average, many consumers will save $50 per month,1 and 4 out of 5 people can get health insurance for $10 or less per month. Even those who weren’t eligible for financial assistance before may now qualify and save — potentially hundreds — on health insurance each month. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, uninsured couples earning more than $70,000 could save more than $1,000 per month on premiums. Additionally, an individual making $19,000 will be able to find coverage with a $0 monthly premium. 2
Roughly 14.9 million uninsured Americans will be able to find the coverage they need at an affordable price. In South Carolina alone, 59,700 people are now eligible for financial assistance to pay for health insurance who were not eligible before. Additionally, 55,600 uninsured South Carolinians are now eligible for plans at $0 per month*.
Licensed representatives at BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina can help you save money on your health insurance. They are your local experts for all your health insurance needs, and they can walk you through your options to determine the best plan within your budget — all while making sure you’re getting the new savings you’re entitled to. In fact, consumers save, on average, an extra $55 per month when contacting us directly to enroll in a BlueCross plan compared to shopping for our plans on HealthCare.gov.
In addition to ACA Individual and Family plans, BlueCross offers a robust selection of Medicare Supplement plans to fill the gaps that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. BlueCross Medicare Supplement plans offer statewide and nationwide doctor choice while providing added benefits, like $0 hearing exams at no extra cost. Representatives at South Carolina BLUESM can help you find the right Medicare Supplement plan for you.
Don’t forget, your local South Carolina BLUE retail center is now open by appointment only! You can speak to a licensed BlueCross representative face to face while getting expert advice and service on your health insurance coverage options.
Make your appointment today to:
• Enroll in affordable and reliable health coverage.
• Review your current coverage.
• Service or make payments on your current plan.
• Find out about free, upcoming virtual retail classes.
We will have measures in place to maintain a safe environment in the store. These include operating by appointment only, social distancing, mask requirements and more. To learn more about our reopening, you can visit SCBlueRetailCenters.com/store or call 803-264-9000.
* $0 benchmark Marketplace coverage.
Sources:
1. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases
2. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/03/12/fact-sheet
