MC ALLEN, TEXAS-July 20, 2020-A nurse treats a patients at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas, where hospitalizations and deaths have spiked this month. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — In the wake of massive layoffs across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 12 million Americans have lost access to their health insurance, according to the Economic Policy Institute. However, the latest COVID-19 relief package expanded ‘zero-dollar’ premium and lower-premium health care options to over 500,000 Utahns.
“Access to quality, affordable health care is essential – especially as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra with the Department of Health and Human Services. “Since the beginning of this special enrollment period’s availability on healthcare.gov, more than 500,000 Americans have already signed up for coverage on healthcare.gov.”
And since the American Rescue Plan allotted more funds to health care coverage, nearly 250,000 Utahns qualify for zero dollar plans. That includes almost 100,000 with no insurance and another 176,000 currently signed up but who need to look again.
Additionally, approximately 290,000 Utahns can apply to receive lower premium health care plans.
In other words, if you haven’t applied for health care or want to shop around, now may be the time. Utahns can apply for health care and shop options until until Aug. 15 on healthcare.gov.
Visit healthcare.gov or localhelp.healthcare.gov if you want to be connected with someone to help right here in Utah.
You can also call 1-800-318-2596.