Land of Lincoln customers who enrolls in a plan from August 2 through September 30 will begin their new coverage on October 1 and avoid a gap in coverage
Bedford Park, Illinois (PRWEB) August 02, 2016
The firm based in Bedford Park, Illinois, has already begun reaching out to its clientele who had enrolled in a Land of Lincoln plan. “We are definitely being proactive,” began Robert Dial, Vice President Operations, ACAenroll.com. “We want our clients to know and understand the options available to them.”
Land of Lincoln, the three-year-old health insurance co-op created under the Affordable Care Act, will cease coverage for all of its individual policyholders on October 1, 2016. Land of Lincoln has suffered major financial losses, causing the Illinois Department of Insurance to take action to shut down the insurer. Illinois Acting Director of Insurance Melissa Dowling has worked with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to create a special enrollment period for the individuals and families losing Land of Lincoln coverage.
Dial continued, “By working with the federal CMS, the Illinois Department of Insurance was able to create a way for the Land of Lincoln customers to enroll in a new plan and avoid a potential gap in coverage.”
Starting on August 2, 2016, individuals and families covered by Land of Lincoln will be able to begin shopping for a new health plan on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. For coverage to begin on October 1, 2016, affected Land of Lincoln members will have to enroll in a plan by September 30. The Special Enrollment Period will remain open until November 29, 2016. However, coverage will not begin until the first day of the following month for those who enroll after September 30.
“Anyone who enrolls in a plan from August 2 through September 30 will begin their new coverage on October 1 and avoid a gap in coverage,” explained Dial. “Affected Land of Lincoln customers will still have up to November 30 to secure coverage for the rest of the year, but they will go uninsured for a short time while they wait for their coverage to begin.”
A big downside to switching coverage mid-year is that any deductible or out of pocket expenses would have to start over with the new plan. Because of this, some Land of Lincoln policyholders have been interested in switching to a Short Term Major Medical plan to ride out the year with.”
Short Term Major Medical plans cover many of the same benefits of a major medical plan, although they do not have to cover all of the essential health benefits that a plan from the Marketplace does. Short Term Major Medical plans also typically do not cover pre-existing conditions, which is why they tend to come in at a lower premium. “Short Term Major Medical plans are not necessarily for everyone,” Dial explained. “If you have a health condition for which you are receiving ongoing treatment, or if you have some other procedure scheduled, you’ll want to go with a Marketplace plan.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, most Americans can only purchase major medical health insurance during the annual Open Enrollment Period. However, if an individual or family experiences a Qualifying Life Event, they become eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. This allows them to gain access to major medical coverage outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period. Typical Qualifying Life Events include such experiences as losing employer-sponsored coverage, getting married, and the birth of a child, among others.
About ACAenroll.com
ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions (ACAenroll.com) is a national enrollment firm specializing in the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Senior Product Market. ACA Marketplace Enrollment Solutions is not affiliated with any governmental agency. We work with consumers to determine their subsidy eligibility, review benefits and plans that will meet their healthcare needs and get them enrolled for coverage. We offer opportunities for producers to have access to our carriers on a national level. Our Call Center is staffed with multi-lingual and licensed health insurance agents who also are certified on the exchange. The company’s website http://www.ACAenroll.com and our Call Center staff are available to assist enrollees through the entire enrollment process. Go to http://www.ACAenroll.com or contact 1-800-342-0631 for more information.