Chasing Life What You Need to Know for Open Enrollment
31 snips
Oct 21, 2025 Elisabeth Rosenthal, a former physician and seasoned health journalist, joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to tackle the complexities of open enrollment. They explore how individuals can navigate the ACA marketplace, emphasizing the importance of understanding network coverage and the differences between HMOs and PPOs. Rosenthal outlines the pitfalls of short-term health plans versus ACA-compliant options, and offers practical tips for verifying your doctors' networks. She also discusses the impact of turning 26 and losing family coverage, making this a must-listen for anyone facing health insurance decisions!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Use Navigators, Not Just Brokers
- Use navigators or assisters on marketplace sites to get free, expert help with plan selection.
- Ask if the helper is a navigator (nonprofit) or an insurance broker and avoid biased brokers steering you to specific plans.
Why Open Enrollment Is Time-Limited
- Open enrollment exists to protect pooled risk and prevent people buying coverage only after getting sick.
- That limited annual window makes enrollment a high-stakes, stressful decision for many.
Lost Drug After Pharmacy Network Change
- Elisabeth Rosenthal discovered her insurer changed specialty pharmacies and she couldn't get a needed drug.
- She uses this example to show how coverage and pharmacy networks can change unexpectedly.
