{"id":5576,"date":"2022-08-09T11:36:28","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T11:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/?p=5576"},"modified":"2022-08-09T11:52:04","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T11:52:04","slug":"how-long-covid-could-impact-health-insurance-coverage-eligibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/distilinfo.com\/healthplan\/how-long-covid-could-impact-health-insurance-coverage-eligibility\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long COVID Could Impact Health Insurance Coverage, Eligibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The presence of long COVID may spur changes in health insurance coverage, as people with employer-sponsored health plans may have to cut back their hours or stop working, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 vaccines and prior infections can help protect individuals against severe illness and death, but experts have yet to determine whether they offer protection against long COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long COVID can occur after people are infected with COVID-19. Symptoms can include malaise, fatigue, breathing challenges, migraines, cardiovascular abnormalities, and mental health impairments. KFF researchers estimated that 10 to 35 million adults between 18 and 64 may have long COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it is unknown how long people with long COVID experience symptoms, one study found that 29 percent of patients were sick for more than one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long COVID can significantly impact employment and health insurance coverage, as the accompanying symptoms can limit people\u2019s ability to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among adults with long COVID who had worked before infection, 25 percent were out of work after getting long COVID and 31 percent reduced their hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 60 percent of adults receive health insurance coverage through an employer, according to KFF. People with long COVID who can no longer work could lose their existing coverage and experience income losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These changes could allow some individuals to qualify for subsidies on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, while others may be eligible for Medicaid. However, Medicaid eligibility remains limited in the 12 states that have yet to expand Medicaid under the ACA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n