Open enrollment for health insurance is here, and deadlines are important

November 1 marked the official open enrollment period for Americans to enroll in the marketplace, apply for Medicaid, or change their health care plans to better meet their needs.

This open enrollment period is crucial for the 48 Carter County residents who lost Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids coverage because the window for people to reenroll is closing quickly. People have until January 15, 2025, to reapply, or they may have to wait until November 2025 to apply again.

"Over the past year and a half, thousands of Montanans have seen changes to their health insurance coverage. In Carter County, 48 have lost Medicaid since 2023," said Olivia Riutta, Director of Population Health with the Montana Primary Care Association. "The window to get covered again is closing, but it's not too late. We will do everything possible to reach as many Montanans as possible to get them affordable insurance by the January 15 deadline."

In the past year, Montana has also seen a record enrollment in the Marketplace. Of the Carter County residents who got health insurance on HealthCare.gov, 22% qualified for plans costing $10 per month or less, and the average premium after tax credits was $138. For 2024, HealthCare.gov will have plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Mountain Health COOP, and PacificSource.

"For anyone who doesn't have health insurance coverage, now is the time to look at your options," said Riutta. "Cover Montana navigators are ready to answer questions about health insurance and provide free help so Montanans can find and enroll in a plan that meets their health needs and budget, including Montana Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids."

Like most states, Montana reviewed their entire Medicaid caseloads after a three-year pause during the pandemic. This "unwinding" has removed over 130,000 Montanans from their Medicaid coverage. Approximately 63%, or 85,000, of these individuals lost coverage due to procedural and administrative hurdles. An additional 42,000 are no longer qualified for Medicaid because they have a higher income. However, they may be able to enroll in a marketplace plan and get financial help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs if eligible.

"We know that Montanans want health insurance coverage and to have the peace of mind knowing they can see a doctor if they get sick or injured," said Riutta. "But people are confused about what they qualify for, and Cover Montana is here to help get people the health care they need and can afford."

The Montana Primary Care Association is a Navigator grantee serving the state of Montana. In September, they were awarded a five-year grant to continue their statewide work to help underserved communities, consumers, and uninsured Montanans find and enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Through Cover Montana, Montanans can learn health insurance basics, fill out a calculator to see what they qualify for, and connect to an enrollment assister who can walk them through the application and enrollment process. Cover Montana Navigators can provide phone and virtual assistance statewide through the Cover Montana Help Line: (406) 634-3105 or (844) 682-6837. In-person enrollment assistance is available in many areas, including Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Miles City. To find the Navigator closest to you, visit covermt.org/find-local-help/. Open Enrollment begins November 1 and runs through January 15. If Montanans need coverage on January 1, they must enroll by December 15.

The Montana Primary Care Association is the professional association of Montana health centers, including Federally Qualified Community Health Centers and urban Indian Health Centers. Its mission is to promote integrated primary healthcare to achieve health and well-being for Montana's most vulnerable populations.