Sign Up for 2022 ACA Health Coverage

Open enrollment ends January 15, 2022, but time remains to access free help and get covered.

The weather outside is frightful, but Asheville musician Noah Proudfoot is already looking forward to warmer days and lots of mountain biking later this year, so signing up for health insurance was especially important to him.

“I haven’t been to a doctor in at least 10 years, but I wanted to make sure that if I break a bone I’m covered,” says Proudfoot.

Proudfoot reviewed his options free of charge and with expert help, working with Claire Kolberg, a navigator for Pisgah Legal Service’s Health Justice program, which helps local people sign up for ACA health insurance.

He’s one of more than 13.6 million folks who are getting covered for 2022, a historic number that is outpacing all previous Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollments.

The HealthCare.gov Marketplace is now offering its Open Enrollment Period, when people throughout western North Carolina—and the entire country—can sign up for quality, affordable health insurance for 2022. But they must act before the Jan. 15 deadline.

Proudfoot says, “I appreciated the free consultation, how thorough and knowledgeable Claire was, and the amount of time she was willing to dedicate to helping me understand the plan options.”

Free Help is Still Available—But Don’t Delay

Trained navigators like Claire stand at the ready for folks across our mountain region. Make an appointment online at pisgahlegal.org/aca or call (828) 210-3404.

Shannon Cornelius, Pisgah Legal’s Health Justice Program Director, says, “This year the deadline to enroll has been extended to January 15, so there is still time to get covered for 2022.”

She continues, “Many people are finding exceptional savings due to the American Rescue Plan, which is putting affordable, quality health insurance within reach for individuals and families, some of whom didn’t qualify in the past.”

Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov (for Spanish-speakers Cuidadodesalud.gov) are guaranteed comprehensive coverage, and cannot be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions. All plans cover essential benefits, including doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, and maternity care. In addition, consumers receive free preventive care services, such as immunizations and health screenings. Testing and treatment of Covid-19 are considered essential health benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.gov plans.

Consumers should avoid insurance plans offered outside of HealthCare.gov that seem too good to be true. “Junk insurance” products and short-term limited duration plans pose huge financial risks to consumers. These products can refuse to pay for care for pre-existing conditions, charge consumers more based on their gender, and impose annual coverage limits. HealthCare.gov is the only website where North Carolina consumers are guaranteed to get comprehensive coverage.

Pisgah Legal and other enrollment partners of WNC participating organizations give local people free, unbiased health insurance information and enrollment assistance in the NC Health Insurance Marketplace. These organizations include the Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Mountain Projects, Inc., Western Carolina Medical Society, and Pisgah Legal Services. Pisgah Legal Services is a member of the North Carolina Navigators Consortium.

Since 1978, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services has provided free civil legal aid to help people with low incomes seek justice and meet their basic needs including preventing homelessness, stopping domestic violence, and securing health care. PLS provides a broad array of free legal services.

Pisgah Legal Services has offices in Asheville, Burnsville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Highlands/Cashiers, Marshall, Newland, Rutherfordton, and Spruce Pine. Pisgah Legal employs staff attorneys and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of approximately 300 volunteer attorneys.