Health Insurance 101
What is health insurance?
A safety net to help you pay for medical care.
My health insurance is ______.
What will happen to my insurance when I turn 18? 19? Or 26?
- 18 – Nothing.
- 19 – If you have Medicaid, you may no longer qualify for it, in which case you would need to find another health insurance option.
- 26 – If you are on your parents’ health insurance, once you turn 26, you will need to find another health insurance.
How can I get health insurance?
- Ask a social worker or Sickle Cell Educator about the Sickle Cell Fund (DHHS).
- Through your parent(s).
- Some people may stay on their parent’s insurance until they turn 26 years old.
- Through your employer and/or college.
- Check with people at your employer and/or school for more information.
- Through assistance from the government (Medicare, Medicaid).
- Medicaid – If you are 18 years or younger and have a low income, you may have access to this low-cost health insurance.
- Medicare – If you have a disability (for example, you get SSI or have end-stage renal disease). More information about Medicare eligibility.
- Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- This program usually has specific times per year when you can sign up.
Will Sickle Cell prevent me from getting health insurance?
No. It is possible this may change in the future, but there is currently a law that makes it illegal to deny health care insurance because you have Sickle Cell.