COLUMBUS – Leaders from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services today urged rural uninsured Ohioans to take action before the Jan. 31 Open Enrollment deadline to get health care coverage.
“Nationwide sign-up for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace is exceeding expectations, but we have more work to do before the next deadline especially in rural areas and small towns,” said USDA Ohio Rural Development State Director Tony Logan during a media call. “We decided to partner with Health and Human Services and reach out to rural Ohioans to help explain their ACA insurance options. No one should go without healthcare because of where they live.”
According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 5 Director Kathleen Falk, the need for health insurance for rural consumers is very real. Rural Americans suffer from higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure than those living in urban areas. Additionally, prior to the inception of the new Health Insurance Marketplace, on average, rural families paid nearly 50 percent of health care costs out of pocket, and one-in-five farmers was in debt because of medical bills. In 2015, Ohio had the lowest rural enrollment in the Great Lakes Region and third lowest in the nation, enrolling 21 percent of those eligible compared to 39 percent in neighboring Indiana.[1]
“Marketplace enrollment in Ohio is strong with about 225,000 already enrolling,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 5 Director Kathleen Falk. “But we know there are many more still without coverage, including many in rural communities, which is why we are so grateful for the leadership and efforts of our colleagues at the USDA.”
The good news is Buckeyes have affordable options available to them. About six in 10 Ohioans are eligible for plans costing $75 or less a month in premiums after tax credits, and about eight in 10 already-enrolled Ohioans who return to shop the Marketplace could save an average of $923 annually in premiums (before tax credits) with a plan offering the same level of coverage. Those who can afford to purchase health insurance this year but choose not to may face a fee of $695 or more. For instance, a family of four with an income of $70,000 will pay a fee of about $2,085 for 2016, based on the most recent IRS data.
On average, rates in Ohio increased by just 1 percent for 2016 plans. This year, Ohio consumers can choose from 17 issuers and an average of 81 plans, up from 70.
Consumers can visit www.areyoucoveredohio.org or call 1-800-648-1176 to get more information about the Health Insurance Marketplace and to make an appointment with a navigator near them. You can also explore and enroll on your own at www.healthcare.gov. For more USDHHS Region V updates, be sure to follow @HHSRegion5 on Twitter and use the hashtag #GetCovered.
