Selecting health insurance, whether from the Marketplace, Medicare,, or Medicaid, can be a challenging and confusing process. AAA staff have trained counselors and federally trained Navigators who can help you find the right option. AAA staff are unbiased and do not receive benefits/reimbursement for specific policies; they are here to help you find what is best for you!
Marketplace and Navigators*
The Health Insurance Marketplace is a service that helps people shop for and enroll in health insurance. The Marketplace (also known as the ACA or Obamacare) provides options for people who don’t have coverage through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source that provides qualifying health care.
ma4’s Federally trained, unbiased Navigators provide free assistance to help you compare health insurance plans, assist you with the online application process, and provide answers to your Marketplace questions year-round.
Medicare
Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare three months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Medicare is not free, and you need to consider plan coverage and prices before you enroll. If you don’t enroll on time during your initial enrollment period, you could face a penalty. Navigating your Medicare selection needs and priorities may feel overwhelming.
Timing is everything when you’re enrolling in Medicare and a lot depends on your specific situation. Turning 65 is a big life event, and thousands of baby boomers are doing it every day.
Medicaid
If you do not have health insurance or you need help paying for your health care, you may be eligible for coverage through Missouri’s Medicaid program, called MO HealthNet. Recently the state of Missouri expanded Mo HealthNet to provide coverage for even more people. Eligibility depends on your income, age, health, and individual needs.
*If you or a loved one are losing Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you may be able to get coverage through the Affordable Care Act: Find out more about the Health Insurance Marketplace
*The Navigator Project is supported by funding Opportunity Number CMS-CA-NAV-19-001 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies.