Carolyn Thomson, ACA Health Insurance Navigator who works with the Department of Health Monroe, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM yesterday morning to talk about health insurance.
Summer time is so much fun, but make sure you’re staying healthy.
Thomson said, “We’re much more active in the summertime. We’re doing road trips, going to the beach, out on the water, you’ve just got to be mindful, because it’s hot out there. Besides sunscreen, which everybody knows, staying hydrated, stretching because you’re doing more physical things, the precautionary care is a good idea.”
What is the difference between conditions that require an emergency room visit versus urgent care?
Thomson said, “An emergency room is very well equipped for treating life threatening medical conditions, severe illnesses, critical injuries, whereas urgent care or walk in clinics can help with the non life threatening medical issues. But here’s the clincher, if you go to urgent care or walk in, it’s less expensive for you. It keeps costs down all the way around, and it frees up the ER for those who really need it. So it is a critical thing to make those decisions.”
Health insurance is a major help.
Thomson said, “Health insurance can provide financial assistance for medical expenses. It reduces the cost of all of the uncertainties. Medical care is very expensive, but I’ve said this along a lot, you can’t be denied health insurance due to any pre existing conditions. People don’t get that that’s the law. It’s not Affordable Cares Act. It’s the Patient Protection in Affordable Cares Act. There’s 10 essential benefits on top of this, pre existing conditions being taken away, and we’ve also discontinued annual and lifetime limits. So there’s a lot of good things that have come out of the ACA or the Patient Protection Act that makes it important to have health insurance. You get things like preventative care, emergency services, prescription drug coverage. It makes it for a guaranteed comprehensive coverage.”
There’s a special enrollment period.
Thomson explained, “If it’s not open enrollment, it’s special enrollment, and people think that, if it’s not open enrollment, I can’t get health insurance, but there’s certain eligibility, such as getting married, getting divorced, having a baby, adopting a child, and here’s a big one, losing health coverage from loss of a job or Medicaid redetermination. There’s a lot of job loss going on right now. People are losing their jobs, and my phone is ringing off the hook because I’m able to get them coverage when they’ve lost their coverage, because they’re eligible for special enrollment. Simple as that. Now there’s another eligibility is if your household income is below a certain amount, and it’s a table, but if you think that you have a low income for your household, you may qualify for special enrollment. Just give me a buzz. I have no problem with answering your questions. Just give me a call or text. Text is best, 305-767-3883, and we’ll be in touch, depending on what your need is. We make an appointment, whether it’s in person or over the phone, and we get it done.”
A Health to You Health Fair is coming up in Key Largo from 3 to 6 p.m. on July 25 at the Murray Nelson Government Center.
Thomson said, “Health fairs are a great way to get community information and resources and touch base with those in your community. That is July 25.”
For more information, click here: https://monroe.floridahealth.gov/