No one plans on getting sick or injured, but life happens when we least expect it. Major medical insurance covers costs that relate to serious illnesses or hospitalizations, and sometimes preventative care, too. These services can include annual visits to the doctor, vaccines, and cancer screenings. Keeping up on chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis can prevent you from spending far more money down the road if the issues go unchecked and require more intensive care. Plus, insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny you service based on pre-existing conditions - diseases or disabilities you already have when you apply for insurance - or to impose a lifetime limit on how much you cost the company.

The Love in Action (LIA) Clinic is a safety net for the uninsured and underinsured. The clinic’s ultimate goal is to serve as a stepping stone that assists patients to secure insurance and become an established patient at a primary care office. LIA knows that insurance is not always an option in certain situations, but encourages patients to attend a free consult to see if they might get coverage for as low as $10/month. These consults are risk-free and non-binding. Patients who obtain major medical insurance can still be seen at the LIA clinic, but now have an added layer of protection for themselves and their loved ones in case of illness or injury.

Here are some insurance options to consider:

Medicaid

  • You may qualify for Medicaid based on a combination of your age, income level, the number of people in your family, or if you are pregnant or disabled

  • You can apply for Medicaid at the MI Bridges website any time of the year

  • If you are denied, your denial letter allows you a 60-day open enrollment window during which you can access the HealthCare.gov Marketplace instead of waiting for the normal enrollment period in the fall




Medicare

  • To qualify for Medicare, you must be 65 years of age or older

  • You can sign up for Medicare as soon as 3 months before your 65th birthday, or earlier if you have certain disabilities, end stage renal disease, or ALS

  • Medicare has multiple parts you can choose from, including Part A (hospital coverage), Part B (outpatient medical coverage), and Part D (prescription drug coverage)

  • The annual enrollment period for Medicare is October 15 - December 7, and you can add on Medicare Part B from January 1 - March 31 if needed

Health Insurance Marketplace

  • Created by the Affordable Care Act, the national Health Insurance Marketplace offers affordable plans to people who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare

  • Love in Action can refer you to Health Markets, a no-pressure insurance agency that can assist you as you select the best Marketplace plan for you

  • The open enrollment period for Marketplace plans is November 1 - December 15 each year, or for 60 days after you’ve been denied Medicaid

  • You can look at Marketplace plans yourself at HealthCare.gov

References

Davis, Elizabeth. (2022, August 10). The affordable care act or obamacare. VeryWell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-affordable-care-act-what-is-it-1738452

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.healthcare.gov/

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Why health insurance is important - protection from high medical costs. Healthcare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/why-coverage-is-important/protection-from-high-medical-costs/

Levine, David. (2020, October 29). Do I really need health insurance? U.S. News and World Report. https://health.usnews.com/health-care/health-insurance/articles/do-i-really-need-health-insurance

Medicare.gov. (n.d.) Parts of medicare. Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/parts-of-medicare

MI Bridges. (n.d.). Welcome to MI bridges. MI Bridges. https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-landing-page?language=en_US

Montgomery, Kelly. (2023, September 23). Major medical health insurance overview. VeryWell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/major-medical-1738592