Baker-Hill had stopped carrying insurance as she battled with other rising costs, including housing, food and transportation. But with her kidney condition worsening and high blood pressure, Baker-Hill realized that having insurance would be cheaper then foregoing it.
“I can’t afford to pay out of pocket,” Baker-Hill said in an interview. “Last time I came (to the clinic), I didn’t have insurance, even the doctor visit … was like $200 something.”
This year, though, there are a litany of changes to the coverage, including to Biden-era enhanced premium tax credits that brought the cost of healthcare plans down for millions of enrollees. Navigators, who offer free assistance to help people traverse those changes, are facing challenges of their own amid significant federal funding cuts…