Getting sick or hurt never happens at a good time. When you need medical care, insurance can help pay for some or all of the bill.

The Wellness Coalition is providing free assistance to individuals and families with online applications for health insurance on the Federally-facilitated Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, or any other insurance for which they are eligible during the open enrollment season.

Open Enrollment is the period in which residents may apply for health insurance through the Federally-facilitated Marketplace. Open enrollment for health insurance coverage in 2022 runs from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022.

Counties eligible for this free assistance include: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Coosa, Crenshaw, Dallas, Elmore, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tallapoosa, and Wilcox.

Residents in these counties wanting assistance applying for health insurance during Open Enrollment can call The Wellness Coalition’s office at (334)293-6502 Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for help over the phone. Evening appointments are also available.

“Due to the American Rescue plan, millions more people qualify for low-cost healthcare plans this year,” said Ghandi Daniels, executive director
for The Wellness Coalition. “We aim to help residents enroll in affordable, quality healthcare plans that offer low or no-cost preventive care, prescription coverage, and other essential benefits.”

Live Enrollment Events

In December, the Wellness Coalition is hosting health insurance enrollment assistance events at public libraries
across the River Region. No appointments are necessary to get assistance at these events.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
10am – 2pm
Luverne Public Library
148 E 3rd Street
Luverne, AL 36049
334-335-5326

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021
10am – 2pm
Prattville Public Library
254 Doster Street
Prattville, AL 36067
334-365-3396

Applicants should know that their income and household size will help determine eligibility. Everyone applying for coverage is required to submit personal information, which may include:

  • Social Security numbers
  • Immigration documentation
  • Most recent income tax statement
  • Information about your employer
  • Check stubs, wages, tips
  • Net income if self-employed
  • Social security payments
  • Alimony, retirement, or pension income
  • Rental income
  • Investment incomes (like dividends or interest)
  • Other taxable income
  • Current healthcare information

Job-based plans may have different Open Enrollment Periods. Applicants covered through their employer should check with that company for more information.

Special Enrollment

When open enrollment ends, you may still be able to enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan if you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. You’re eligible for Special Enrollment if you have certain life events including:

  • Moving to or from Alabama
  • Getting married or divorced
  • Having a baby or adopting a child
  • Gaining or losing a dependent
  • Experiencing a change in disability status
  • Experiencing a change in income
  • COBRA coverage period ends
  • Turning 26 (if previously enrolled through your family’s plan)
  • Losing other health coverage; you cannot qualify for special enrollment if you lose other health insurance because you stopped paying for coverage

Pre-Existing Conditions

Under current law, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts. These rules went into effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.

Health insurers can no longer charge more or deny coverage to you or your child because of a pre-existing health condition like asthma, diabetes, or cancer. They cannot limit benefits for that condition either. Once you have insurance, they can’t refuse to cover treatment for your pre-existing condition.

The pre-existing coverage rule does not apply to “grandfathered” individual health insurance policies. A grandfathered individual health insurance policy is a policy that you bought for yourself or your family on or before March 23, 2010 that has not been changed in certain specific ways that reduce benefits or increase costs to consumers.

Young Adult Coverage

Under current law, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old. Children can join or remain on a parent’s plan even if they are:

  • Married
  • Not living with their parents
  • Attending school
  • Not financially dependent on their parents
  • Eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan

Under-26 coverage ends on a child’s 26th birthday. When a child loses coverage on their 26th birthday, they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This lets them enroll in a health plan outside Open Enrollment.