Broderick Rhyant, M.D.,
chief physician executive with
Eskenazi Health Center Forest Manor
Thinking of and spending time with family is always a top priority during the holiday season, which is also the time to be sure that you and your family have the best health insurance plan for your particular needs.
It only happens once a year and that time is now as the 2023 Health Insurance Open Enrollment period is open and will continue through Jan. 15, 2023. Although wading through the variety of choices of ever changing health insurance plans can be a daunting and confusing task, Eskenazi Health has financial counselors available to provide helpful information and assistance.
Eskenazi Health’s financial counselors will assist in selecting new insurance coverage options. Customers may receive expert helpful advice at any of the Eskenazi Health Center and Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health sites located throughout Marion County, as well as the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital.
The annual Open Enrollment Period was put into place to discourage adverse selection – which happens when sick people sign up for health insurance and healthy people do not. It helps protect people from the risk of not having health insurance when they incur expensive, unexpected medical care or have an existing chronic condition.
Unless you experience a qualifying life event, such as a birth of a child, marriage, or change in health insurance coverage, the Open Enrollment Period is the only time you can enroll in health insurance plans, so addressing your health insurance options and choosing a plan during the open enrollment period is vitally important.
If you suddenly lose health care coverage due to divorce or any other major changes in your life, however, you may be qualified to enroll in a health plan during a Special Enrollment Period.
Keep in mind that if you lose coverage because of failure to pay insurance premiums, you will not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Unlike Open Enrollment Periods that happen at around the same time each year, the timing of Special Enrollment Periods depends on your circumstances. They are typically 60-days long and will allow you to purchase major medical insurance.
Eskenazi Health would also like to remind all patients covered by Medicaid to visit
FSSABenefits.IN.gov to report any changes and check eligibility. The COVID-19 public health emergency may end soon, so it is important to take action prior to it concluding. In
addition, patients should watch their mail for any information sent to them about eligibility.
To speak with Eskenazi Health counselors available to assist with any questions you may have about health care insurance options and redetermination for Medicaid, please call 1.855.202.1053. You may also schedule an appointment online at Eskenazi Health MyChart. Patients are asked to log into their Eskenazi Health MyChart account to learn more.
