He’s one of the 17 million Americans eligible for financial assistance to make coverage more affordable. Find out if you are, too — before the March 31 deadline.
Michael Paul Goldenberg has lived without health insurance since 2009 — almost as long as he’s had type 2 diabetes. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based part-time math teacher and consultant lost his insurance when he lost his previous job, and the $500 a month to continue his coverage was unaffordable over the long term.
His doctor helped him find programs to get the medication he needs at a discount, but Goldenberg couldn’t afford the supplies necessary to test his blood glucose levels daily, an essential component of diabetes management. Goldenberg paid cash for an annual physical, but the out-of-pocket cost of the blood tests he needed always left him with sticker shock.
When some additional health concerns came up a few months ago, Goldenberg decided it was time to look into what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could do for him.
I’ve seen what medical bills can add up to, and it’s terrifying. Without insurance, those bills could ruin someone. I was skeptical about Obamacare at first, but I decided it couldn’t be worse than not having insurance.
Goldenberg learned it was far better than he expected when he visited Healthcare.gov. He says using the website was “a piece of cake,” and he was able to enroll in about 35 minutes. He compared his coverage options and selected a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan plan. Goldenberg qualified for tax subsidies that kept his monthly premium to just $56 a month — and he gets to keep his doctor.
My mother’s really happy I’m getting this coverage. How can people not be? I’m definitely a fan. I don’t understand what people are complaining about. Those horror stories just aren’t true. I’m a year and a half from Medicare, and I’d like to make it to that age — and then keep going.
The deadline to enroll in coverage for 2014 is March 31. Don’t delay! Visit Healthcare.gov to find out how much you could save and sign up.
[Photo courtesy of Michael Paul Goldenberg.]
