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Recently Uninsured? Apply For Obamacare or Medicaid

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    If you were recently laid off from your job and have lost your health insurance then you are eligible to apply to get coverage during an Obamacare Special Enrollment Period, but you only have a limited window to do so. That window may be closing soon for a number of Americans who were laid off in early March.

    The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has set dates, typically a three month window towards the end of the year, called "Open Enrollment" where Americans can sign up for health insurance that would begin on January 1 the following year. Obamacare also has something called a "Special Enrollment Period" where people who know they are about to get laid off or who were laid off without prior notice can sign up for coverage any time of the year.

    Any American who was laid off for no fault of their own is eligible to sign up for coverage under the Special Enrollment Period, but you only have 60 days from your date of termination to do so. That means time is running short for anyone who was laid off during the first wave of shutdowns in mid-March to sign up for health insurance coverage on Obamacare markets.

    Another option for some people and families would be to apply for Medicaid. Unlike Obamacare, there is no deadline to apply for coverage, but there is also no guarantee you will qualify since individual states have a lot of discretion in determining who is eligible. However, the good news is that you can apply for Medicaid when you go to Healthcare.gov and begin the application process for coverage. You will very quickly find out if you are eligible for Medicaid or reduced or no premium plans on the Obamacare marketplace.

    Whatever you qualify for, your application process starts at Healthcare.gov. Don't wait to act before it's too late.

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    JaredS Wrote:

    you only have 60 days from your date of termination to do so. That means time is running short for anyone who was laid off during the first wave of shutdowns in mid-March to sign up for health insurance coverage on Obamacare markets.

    That is really important to know and quite honestly I am very surprised this isn't a more talked about issue in the country right now. With tens of millions unemployed and with so many getting health insurance through their employers, I would have thought this would be just as discussed and worried about as stimulus checks and unemployment. Maybe I am missing something... either way, good share. Thanks for the info.
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    J.K.Logic Wrote: That is really important to know and quite honestly I am very surprised this isn't a more talked about issue in the country right now. With tens of millions unemployed and with so many getting health insurance through their employers, I would have thought this would be just as discussed and worried about as stimulus checks and unemployment. Maybe I am missing something... either way, good share. Thanks for the info.
    I am, as well. I have a feeling a lot of people have no idea they and their families may be eligible for Medicaid, especially if both parents are unemployed. And even if someone doesn't qualify for Medicaid, there's a good chance they could get some subsidies to help pay for health insurance through Obamacare.