#CoverageMatters: The ACA Helped Me Make My Side Gig My Main Gig

I’m a creativepreneur. My goal is to encourage people to add creativity in their lives to reduce stress, express themselves and spend quality time with their family and friends. I call it spreading the gospel of glitter. And I’ve done it by sharing tutorials, business tips, videos and classes, as well as writing books and speaking across the country.

My husband is an artist and musician, and together, we have crafted a life following our passion of making, selling and teaching art. But we couldn’t run our business full time without the security of health insurance for our family.

Before the Affordable Care Act, I had researched health insurance plans on the private market and could not find one we could afford. Thanks to the ACA and the Health Insurance Marketplace, I was able to leave my full-time job with health benefits in 2015 to start my own business. My side gig became my main gig, and my business has thrived. The Marketplace plan was perfect for our budget and lifestyle. The first year, I was even able to cover my then 23-year-old daughter because of the law’s provision allowing adult children up to the age of 26 to stay on their parents’ plan. My children are now employed at full-time jobs that offer coverage.

Continuing coverage is important to us. My husband has high blood pressure and needs regular care and medications. With the tax credits, we were able to find a plan that costs $120 a month. We currently pay $35 a month for his prescriptions, which would skyrocket to $800 without our current Marketplace insurance. I’ve used my coverage to stay up to date on flu shots and checkups.

I can’t imagine not having insurance – we would probably wait until a dire situation and end up in the ER or urgent care facility—and face a large bill that would set us back.

We strive to stay healthy, but there have been times when we had to go to the doctor -- and it didn’t break the bank, because we had Marketplace coverage. Having insurance offers so much peace of mind and allows us to focus on making our business a success. As a proud third-generation Mexican-American, I feel it’s important to raise healthy families, pursue our dreams and contribute our skills and talents to our beloved country.  A healthy community is a productive and happy community!

The Affordable Care Act is great for those of us who are growing a business, big or small, because that hard work contributes so much to our local and national community. But this security is now in jeopardy for millions of Americans, like myself, Latinos and other hard-working middle-class families who rely on the Affordable Care Act. I’m sharing my story during Latino Week of Action because #CoverageMatters to me, just as it does for millions of other American women and men. Share your own story on social media using #CoverageMatters.

Marketplace coverage is still available. So if you’re uninsured, check out your options at HealthCare.gov or Cuidadodesalud.gov to enroll in coverage that meets your needs and budget. It won’t hurt to shop and explore your options. Check it out. Have a cup of coffee while you’re doing it.

Open Enrollment for the Marketplace goes until January 31, 2017, but you need to enroll by January 15 for coverage that begins February 1.

Financial assistance may be available to help you get covered, like it did for us. You can get 24/7 help –in English or Spanish – comparing plans and enrolling by calling 1-800-318-2596 or find in-person assistance in your community at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov.

My #CoverageMatters.