When the recession struck the United States in 2007, many older Americans lost their jobs. Not yet of retirement age, they suddenly found themselves struggling for health care. The health insurance marketplace that is in effect right now is proving to be of great benefit to them. For a while they struggled. Unable to get a job, insurers rejected them and medical costs kept on rising. They haven’t reached the age when they can qualify for Medicare, therefore, they were facing a crisis.
Some provisos
Most of the people hardest hit by the recession were in their 50s and 60s. And this February, they came out winners after availing of the new health insurance system through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Most people call it Obamacare. Though many think that the new health care act is riddled with flaws, one of its main provisions state that any uninsured individual must purchase a medical insurance coverage from a private insurance provider. They are now signing up in large numbers. Enrolment is done through the marketplace where individuals can shop for the most affordable health insurance coverage they want.
Stated in the act is that people with pre-existing health conditions can still have health insurance. Routine check-ups will be covered by insurance. Likewise, routine gynecological exams for women are free and more women can have access to contraception. The Medicaid eligibility is raised 133% from the poverty line by the ACA.
Benefits
About 31% of the new enrollees in the health insurance marketplace are Americans ages 55 to 64. According to the latest figures from the federal government, they represent the largest sector by age group. Most of them are doing part-time jobs or starting their own businesses, and majority of them are uninsured. December figures show that 46% of older people seeking new employment were among those that became unemployed for a long time due to the recession. Its rate was almost double the rate before 2007.
For those that have enrolled at the health insurance marketplaces, they think that the ACA is an answered prayer. They can now rest easy knowing that they can once again have their regular medical check-ups and surgeries that they have postponed.
The increase in enrollees among people in their 50s and 60s is actually expected by the administration of President Obama, since they have done an internal research about it last year. They have already foreseen that the healthier and younger enrollees might be more difficult to convince and try to put off signing up for coverage until just before the March 31, 2014 deadline.
Increase in patients
A doctor with a family practice in Miami, Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger said that people in this age group are noticeably increasing their doctor visits. Most of these people have chronic conditions that were untreated because of lack of medical insurance coverage, and some of their conditions have progressively advanced. Now they are requesting for referrals to specialists.
Although people complain about the confusion with the federal website and the long time spent online, those that have already enrolled immediately saw the cost savings they are getting from the various medical insurance plans available.
Photo credit: Taken by nightscream> under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
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