The Chronicles Of Grant County

Individuals in Grant County that received unemployment compensation at any point during 2021 are able to secure zero premium or low-cost health insurance through a provision of the American Rescue Plan. According to the State of New Mexico, qualified New Mexicans can select health insurance policies as part of this Special Enrollment Period.

To do so, you must act prior to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 15, 2021.

These health insurance policies are good from September 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.

"All health plans cover the 10 essential benefits such as doctor visits, hospital stays, maternity care, emergency room care, prescriptions, and more," according to a statement from BeWellnm, the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange. "Federal law and regulations provide protections against preexisting condition exclusions in health insurance coverage. Health plans must permit New Mexicans to enroll regardless of health status, age, gender, or other factors that may predict the use of health services."

To obtain the special subsidies available to people who received unemployment compensation, qualified individuals must choose from among Silver-level insurance policies. Individuals must not be able to receive health insurance through their employers to be qualified for these special subsidies.

A few examples of zero-premium health insurance policies that may be available to local residents include:

A sixty year-old single woman in Silver City with an annual income of $17,800 would be able to choose from 12 possible Silver-level insurance policies. She would potentially be eligible for a $775 monthly subsidy from September 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. One of the twelve insurance policies has a zero premium; this insurance policy, provided through Molina Healthcare, has zero deductibles. BeWellnm estimated that the total yearly cost is estimated to be $240, with the total yearly cost in a "bad year" estimated to be $1,200.

Twelve Silver-level insurance policies are available as potential options for a 41 year-old man with a similar annual income in Santa Clara. He would potentially be eligible for a $372 monthly subsidy from September 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. Of these twelve insurance policies, one is offered at a zero premium with zero deductibles – a health insurance policy offered by Molina Healthcare. BeWellnm estimated that the total yearly cost is estimated to be $140, with the total yearly cost in a "bad year" estimated to be $1,200.

A couple with one adult aged 28 years and a second adult aged 27 years living in Bayard would have twelve potential options for health insurance coverage. They would potentially be eligible for a $610 monthly subsidy from September 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. One of the twelve insurance policies is offered by Molina Healthcare at a zero premium with zero deductibles. The estimate from BeWellnm is that the yearly cost for this insurance policy is $370, with $1,940 being the estimated total yearly cost in a "bad year."

You can find further information by calling BeWellnm at 1-833-ToBeWell or 1-833-862-3935 or by visiting the website of BeWellnm by clicking here.

Information in this news column was secured from governmental news releases and websites. Please note that several entities were contacted during the past two weeks to secure information for this news column. The U S Department of Health and Human Services declined to answer six requests for information, three by email and three by telephone. An organization that supports health care services in New Mexico declined to answer four requests for information, two by email and two by telephone. The State of New Mexico did respond to initial requests for information, but did not provide any answers to the actual questions seeking specific answers for this news column.

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© 2021 Richard McDonough