There is a fear out there that healthcare coverage is impossibly unaffordable for some people. After being a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) for more than five years I can tell you: There are many affordable options, and there are people out there like me who want to help you find health insurance.
Since 2013, I’ve been working with a group of other fellow military veterans as CACs on a mission to connect people to affordable and accessible plans. Right now is our most important time of the year: Open Enrollment. Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, anyone who doesn’t have insurance through their job or Medicare can sign up for health insurance for 2020 through the online Marketplace. In New Jersey, this is especially important because everyone is required by state law to have health insurance or pay a penalty at tax time.
We’re trained to shepherd you and your family through finding an affordable plan. Usually this process takes 30-60 minutes. Just think – you can spend an hour with a CAC to gain a year’s worth of peace of mind through health insurance. We take this time to illustrate what I like to call a “buffet of options” that can accommodate various budgets and guide you through the enrollment process.
To make the process even easier, here are some tips to prepare for the insurance sign-up process:
- DO gather all of the needed documents you have before an appointment with a CAC. This includes the Social Security numbers for all persons needing coverage, proof of a New Jersey address and paystubs.
- DO try to find out what insurance your preferred doctor’s office, urgent care and hospital accept.
- DON’T be afraid to ask questions. Health insurance is complicated and a CAC’s job is to make sure you understand your options.
- DON’T wait until the last minute to sign up for insurance. If there are any delays in getting the proper documents or finding the right help, you could miss the Dec. 15 deadline.
When we work with people around the state who are uninsured or underinsured, a lot of people learn they’re qualified for either subsidies for Marketplace insurance or for NJ FamilyCare. CACs are able to figure out what you’re eligible for and get you signed up for the right plan.
If you’re part of the roughly 9 percent of New Jerseyans who aren’t covered for 2020 and you need a hand, visit GetCovered.nj.gov to find information, enrollment events and CACs like me who you can meet with in your area.
It’s really rewarding to help someone sign up for insurance and see them a few months down the road with a better quality of life. They tell me it’s because they were able to have a procedure or get a healthcare service that they didn’t have access to before. After seeing these same people previously worry about the cost, that is priceless.
