On November 1st, 2017, open enrollment for health insurance began nationwide. The deadline for the national exchange is December 15th, 2017, but fortunately the deadline for our state exchange, Covered California, is January 31st, 2018.
This is a crucial time for people with mental health conditions. All health plans offered through CoveredCA.com must cover mental health and substance use services at the same level as other health conditions, although some plans offer better benefits than others. Additionally, 4 out of 5 people who sign up on CoveredCA.com qualify for financial help, either through a Covered California plan or through Medi-Cal.
NAMI has a few tips to help you choose the right plan (or re-evaluate your current one):
• Affordability. Compare monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pays and/or co-insurance to make sure you have selected the best option for your health insurance needs. Consider not only about how much you will pay each month in premiums but also how much you will need to pay to cover co-pays and co-insurance.
• Availability of mental health professionals. If you use mental health care, check to see if your mental health professional(s) and other health care providers are in a health plan’s network. If they are not, find out if the insurance plan will pay for out-of-network providers—and how much they will cover.
• Coverage of prescription medications. If you currently take any medications, find a plan that covers the medication(s) you need to maintain your wellness.
• Limits on mental health office visits. Check to see if a plan will cover the number of therapy visits you may need. Depending on your needs, you may also need to consider differences in inpatient and outpatient coverage.
Additionally, Covered California has many local centers and events where certified enrollers are waiting to help you free of charge! Click here for local and call center info.
It takes less than ten minutes to enroll. Apply for Covered California now!