Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage begins, local organizations encourage Texans to apply

The enrollment period for Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplace coverage began Nov. 1. and continues through Jan. 15.

The Marketplace is a service through the federal government that provides health insurance for those who are uninsured through employment, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other eligible insurance plans.

The Foundation Communities held an event with Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, on Oct. 30 at Foundation Communities Prosper to discuss signing up for ACA health insurance. Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and representatives from the Health Alliance for Austin Music (HAAM) were also in attendance.

Details

Marketplace health insurance plans are required to hold certain benefits. These include 10 essential health benefits, such as prescription drugs, emergency services, hospitalization, mental health, laboratory services and substance abuse services of drugs. Marketplace plans also include coverage for pre-existing health conditions and free preventive health services, such as shots and screening tests.

To receive services starting January 1st, members must be registered by December 15th. Protection for those who register on Jan. 15. they will get coverage starting Feb. 1.

Why is it important

More than 4.7 million Texans do not have health insurance, according to the United States Census Bureau. The state also has the highest uninsured rate of any state in the United States, with about 18% of Texans uninsured. In Travis County, more than 148,000 people are uninsured, according to 2022 Census data.

This is the first year that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients will be able to enroll in the ACA’s health insurance marketplace. The change comes after the Biden administration changed ACA regulations in May 2024 to consider DACA recipients “lawfully present,” making them eligible for federal health coverage. Before the new regulations, DACA recipients were not eligible to apply for federal financial aid.

There are about 89,000 DACA recipients in Texas as of June 30, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The ACA’s open enrollment period will also be important to Austin residents who live in low-income areas, Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela said at the Foundation Communities event.

Vela, who represents District 4, said many residents in his district do not have health insurance and face “significant barriers” to getting coverage. He said that the 4th district is also one of the lowest income areas in the city, he said that it is difficult to find affordable insurance.

“Not only are many people working multiple jobs while taking care of families, but many of them have limited English skills or don’t have reliable access to the internet,” he said.

Medicaid expansion in Texas is also necessary to address the issue of high insurance premiums, Vela said.

He said: “We are denying billions of federal dollars every year and forcing more than a million Texans to seek the health insurance coverage they should have if we expand Medicaid.” “It’s past time to do that.”

Getting insurance is also important to Austin music, HAAM member Raul Adrian Ochoa said.

Ochoa, a solo singer and a member of a group, said that musicians often face certain occupational hazards. Wearing band aids and being exposed to noise and noise can lead to health problems, such as injured limbs or tinnitus.

He said: “I’ve lost my ribs more times than I can count, getting in and out of the car.

Ochoa said it’s important for musicians to have insurance to keep Austin’s love of music alive.

“We have to keep the music alive,” he said. “Sometimes it affects our survival.”

Learn more

To enroll in the ACA Texas marketplace, visit www.HealthCare.gov.

Foundation Communities offers bilingual services for those looking for a free health insurance screening.

To learn more about HAAM health care, visit www.myhaam.org.