Resources to help you navigate federal health insurance changes

Millions of Americans are losing health insurance coverage due to decisions made by Congress, including changes to Medicaid and other federal programs and allowing enhanced premium tax credits offered through the Affordable Care Act to expire.

 It’s no wonder that PBS News reports healthcare costs are a major concern for voters this year.

Voices for Affordable Health has assembled some helpful resource links for our advocates living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah:

• Washington State – Officials estimate hundreds of thousands of people could lose Medicaid coverage under new federal rules. Visit WashingtonHealthPlanFinder.com for more details and coverage options.
• Oregon – Nearly 600,000 Oregonians are receiving notice that they could lose coverage or face new requirements because of federal budget cuts. OregonHealthcare.gov, the official website for the state of Oregon has created a page with various options.

The Oregon Health Forum will host The Medicaid Shift: Keeping Oregonians Covered on Oct. 13 from 12:30–2 p.m. The webinar will examine how federal Medicaid changes could affect Oregonians at risk of losing coverage and highlight community-based strategies to sustain enrollment.

• Idaho – Your Health Idaho has gathered information about the changes on this webpage.
• Utah – As of July, NPR in Utah reported that more than 63,000 Utah residents had dropped their insurance after losing tax credits that helped offset the cost. Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services has summarized how people may be affected by Medicaid program changes here. The Utah Insurance Department also offers helpful links about other insurance options.

Have changes in federal health insurance programs affected you or someone you love? What tips do you have? Share your thoughts and personal stories with Voices for Affordable Health.

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