35 million Americans could lose health insurance amid mass layoffs

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Up to 35 million Americans could lose their health insurance in the coming weeks as businesses lay off workers due to the economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study.

The astonishing projection from Health Management Associates underscores the pandemic's ripple effects from the economy into health care. The group said that the number of uninsured Americans could spike to 40 million people, a level unseen since before the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010.

The study also estimated 23 million Americans could enroll in Medicaid, ensuring many would still receive insurance through other means. But 5 million Americans might still wind up uninsured.

The economic fallout from the coronavirus caused more than 10 million people to file for unemployment benefits in March. That unprecedented surge will likely lead many people to lose their health insurance, given that around half of American workers are covered by their employers.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/healthcare/35-million-americans-could-lose-health-insurance-amid-mass-layoffs/ar-BB12enAO?li=BBnb7Kz

[Wellstone ruled]

1. This is going to be one hell of a

disaster. Thinking the true numbers will be in the tens of millions uncovered with in weeks.

[Massacure]

2. Not really

People who got laid off can always take COBRA, and the additional $600 a week unemployment benefit through July 31 should easily cover the cost of it.

[flying rabbit]

3. Not if they want a place to live

and food to eat. Cobra is expensive.

[mwooldri]

4. Ha!

You jest about COBRA, no? Employees have to pay 100% of the cost. In some cases going onto the ACA exchanges and going through special enrollment (loss of other coverage is a qualifying event) would be far far cheaper than going COBRA. Last time I left a job and qualified for COBRA the premiums were in the thousands per month. Fortunately my wife was (and still is) working so it was better to pile me and the kids on her employers plan.

[Massacure]

7. I do not jest, but your points are valid

I was laid off a four years ago in July, and I paid about $550 a month for COBRA. A bronze plan in the ACA would have been about $200 a month cheaper, but I"m diabetic and had already hit my out of pocket maximum on my former employer's plan, so COBRA was the most effective path forward for me. If I had a spouse or if I hadn't already collected enough of my $65,000 salary for the severance to put my over the 400% poverty level ($48,000), the math may have worked out differently.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Well,that COBRA does not come cheap.

Been down that road,and it does depend on the Insurance Carrier as well as what State you life in. Gets damn expensive with massive deducts.

[Indykatie]

6. Laid Off People Do NOT Have to Take COBRA - They Can Sign Up for Obamacare Immediately

Loss of your Employer based insurance is a qualified Life Event that enables you to sign up outside the annual Obamacare open enrollment period. Coverage will be free for most people given they've lost their income. Even if they have to pay something it will be much cheaper than COBRA.

Please help pass the word on this.

[Massacure]

9. Indeed.

COBRA just came to mind first because that was the most effective path forward for me when I was laid off four years ago. I'm fortunate to be in a profession where I make more than 400% of the federal poverty level though. The other considering factor was the fact that I had already hit my out-of-pocket maximum on my former employer's plan.

[Ms. Toad]

11. The ACA marketplace is likely to be a better solution for most people.

Termination of insurance (even if COBRA is available) triggers an automatic open enrollment period in the ACA marketplace. In most instances the premiums are cheaper. There are reasons to take COBRA, such as chronic health conditions that require specialized meds that aren't necessarily approved on a new plan - or if a new plan would require you to meet multiple out-of-pocket copays in a year because your chronic health condition blows thorugh any cap in under a month. But aside from specia conditions, COBRA is generally enormously expensive.

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Perhaps this will disabuse Americans

of their love for employer-based health insurance.

[shanti]

13. You'd think!

One of the biggest scams ever.

[ooky]

15. Yeah. They'll stop yelling "I don't want to pay for someone else's health

insurance (because I've got mine)" and start yelling "give me socialist health care quick".

[Ms. Toad]

10. All of these people will be eligible for insurance in the ACA marketplace.

Depending on income, both the premiums and the out-of-pocket expenses will be subsidized.

When you lose your source of insurance, you are entitled to a 60-day open enrollment period in the marketplace.

My daughter was laid off from EarthFare when they went bankrupt. Her insurance is about the same as it was at EarthFare. She has an extra max out of pocket this year (due to her unique, $200,000 of billed medical expenses this year), but that isn't the fault of the marketplace.

It's a shame that the articles touting Trump's inhumane refusal to generally provide an open enrollment period aren't simultaneously reminding people of the individual open enrollment period that happens anytime you lose your insurance (get divorced, lose a job, move from one state to another, etc.)

[sarcasmo]

12. Trump wouldn't expand the ACA, soulless cretin.

[MoonlitKnight]

14. ACA plans vary by state

And those plans suck in many states.