Sunday is Last Day for Texans to Get Insurance on HealthCare.Gov

For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Clark, 512-473-2274, pclark@txchildren.org

Austin - After Congress cut health insurance prices for millions of Americans on HealthCare.Gov, health care care advocates are urging Texans to sign up for insurance before the deadline on August 15th. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress boosted financial help to lower the monthly costs of insurance on HealthCare.Gov, allowing four out of five people enrolled in a HealthCare.Gov plan to pay $10 per month or less, according to an analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, according to the analysis, 501,000 uninsured Texans are now eligible for a health plan at $0 per month with low out-of-pocket costs, like copays and the deductible.

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“If you were priced out in the past, it’s time to take a second look because there are now some great health plans at a very low cost available on HealthCare.Gov,” said Stacey Pogue, Senior Policy Analyst at Every Texan. “The new lower prices are available to Texans who are uninsured as well Texans who already have a HealthCare.Gov plan and want to cut down on the monthly costs.”

Insurance plans on HealthCare.Gov must include key benefits like mental health care, maternity care, prescription drug coverage, hospitalization services, and coverage for pre-existing conditions. Plans outside HealthCare.Gov do not have to offer the same protections or financial help.

"If you're uninsured, this is your last chance to sign up for a low-cost health plan for 2021. The American Rescue Plan has increased the financial help available and you may now find coverage for a better price, said Aurora Harris, Southern Region Director for Young Invincibles. “Free preventive services are one of the major benefits of health coverage, which means mental health, maternity coverage, and screenings are included in every plan sold at HealthCare.gov — benefits young people seek out the most. So, there's no better time to get covered. Visit healthcare.gov to get started." 

With few exceptions, Sunday, August 15th is the last day to sign up for insurance for 2021 on HealthCare.Gov.  (Starting November 1, 2021, Texans will be able to start signing up for insurance for 2022 on HealthCare.Gov.)

Community organizations are standing by to offer Texans free, expert help with the sign-up process in the following areas:

Options for Texans living outside of the areas listed above:

  • Use MyTexasMyHealth.org to search for in-person assistance at your local community health center.

  • HealthCare.Gov has a tool to Find Local Help. You can filter results to see the certified assisters from local community-based organizations who can help with enrollment at HealthCare.gov, Medicaid, and CHIP (remove the “Agent or Broker” box under “Filter,” so that only the “Assisters” box is showing). 

  • Foundation Communities’ Prosper Health Coverage Program provides enrollment assistance over the phone by appointment for Texas residents that have no community-based assisters in their area. Call (512) 381-4520 or visit ProsperHealthCoverage.org. 

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