skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Open Enrollment Deadline Looms

play audio
Play

Thursday, December 14, 2017   

RALEIGH, N.C. -- If you haven't already signed up for health coverage through Healthcare.gov and haven't secured insurance for 2018, time is running out. The deadline to sign up on the federal health exchange is midnight Friday.

With the enrollment period six weeks shorter than it was in prior years, state agencies and consumer groups are working hard to make sure people take action. There are concerns that higher premiums may deter some people from even looking into a plan.

But Walker Wilson, assistant secretary for policy at the state Department of Health and Human Services, said it is worth a look.

"The cost of coverage may go up for certain people based on the insurance carriers who are making plans available on the healthcare.gov website,” Wilson said. “But people who qualify for a subsidy, their out-of-pocket cost may not change at all."

On Tuesday, Governor Cooper asked the federal government to extend the open enrollment period for a week, but there's no indication that request will be granted.

There is free help available, both in person and over the phone. More information can be found at NCNavigator.net or by calling 855-733-3711 to speak with trained enrollment navigators.

According to published reports, as of December 2, just over 209,000 people in North Carolina had signed up for 2018 insurance through the exchange, compared to 500,000 signed up during last years open enrollment. Scott Mulhauser, a board member at Consumers for Quality Care, urged people to take action.

"You're in these final days and final hours, and Friday night is the deadline, and so it's critical that folks just take a look, they go online and they make sure that they're covered, they're family is covered,” Multiuser said. "Use this open enrollment period to make it work for you. "

Wilson said the state has been able to encourage involvement in the past, and she's hoping the trend will continue.

"North Carolina has been one of the highest enrollment states where we've moved more people from the uninsured category to the insured category,” Walker said. “And I think that's in part due to the statewide focus on this and the local partnerships where there are people who are on the ground helping people enroll. "

Nationwide, as of this week, 4.7 million people have signed up for health care through the exchange. Some states with their own health exchanges - which North Carolina does not have - were able to extend their enrollment period until December 22.

Reporting by North Carolina News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the Park Foundation.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021