Open Enrollment 2015

A health insurance plan covering ABA services is necessary for any family who has a child with autism. For those that may not currently have health insurance, now is the time to enroll. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a new way for families to enroll in insurance, it’s called open enrollment. This is a yearly period when individuals
can enroll in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. To obtain insurance coverage for 2016, you must purchase a policy between November 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016. While you may purchase a policy anytime during this period, the policy will not go into effect until January 1, 2016. It’s important to note that ACA plans are fully funded and are mandated to include coverage of autism services. This does not affect the cost of the plan in any way.
“We cannot stress enough how important open enrollment is. We encourage all families to purchase a policy if they are able to as open enrollment only comes once a year. If you choose not to enroll now and find you need insurance later, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period before being able to purchase a policy. For a child with autism, that could mean valuable time without much needed ABA services,” says co-founder of Lighthouse Autism Center, Sandy Maggioli. The Insurance Department at Lighthouse Autism Center has been working very hard researching which policies will be available and will most benefit families with autism. They found several affordable policies with monthly premiums lower than what the average parent pays for a month of childcare. To learn more or inquire about purchasing a policy, you can contact Lighthouse Insurance Coordinator, Michele Rohyan, at 574-387-4313. When asked how Lighthouse can help families, Sandy Maggioli said, “We’ll help families find a policy that is right for them and even help them apply for grants to cover their out-of-pocket expenses. It is our goal to help families in any way we can, starting with the insurance process.”