Editor’s note: This post was originally published on December 23, 2016, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehension.
Open Enrollment.
The chance to change your health insurance or purchase a policy is at your fingertips.
Here is everything you need to know about Open Enrollment.
Dates
It’s important to note that the health insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period is 45 days for 2020.
- November 1, 2020: Open enrollment begins. After this date, you can enroll in health insurance, re-enroll in your plan or change plans. Your coverage can begin on January 1, 2020, if you enroll in November and early December.
- December 15, 2020: This is the final day to change or enroll in a plan for 2021. If you miss this date, the only way you can change plans or enroll in one is to qualify for a special enrollment period.
- January 1, 2021: This is when your coverage begins when you enroll by December 15, 2020.
All about the Marketplace
The Marketplace is where you can go to purchase health insurance if you don’t have a policy through your job, or you aren’t on Medicare, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
If you hold insurance through your job, you can still purchase through the Marketplace, but you won’t get any discounts.
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If you’re on Medicare, you can’t purchase Marketplace insurance as your primary policy; however, you can purchase Marketplace supplemental insurance, such as a dental plan.
Cost and savings
It’s worth investigating whether you qualify for a tax credit or not. Since 80 percent of people who apply for health insurance on the Marketplace are in fact eligible for reduced premiums, you’ve got nothing to lose.
The tax credit is based on your income and the number of people in your household.
Going without insurance
According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), everyone must be enrolled in a health insurance plan or be subject to a penalty.
The penalty is calculated either per person or as a percentage of your income as a household – whichever is higher is the amount you’ll be fined.
Applying for coverage
Because selecting and enrolling in a health insurance plan is confusing, it’s best not to go it alone. Work with an experienced professional to investigate all of your options, review the more than 50 plans available on the Marketplace, and then choose the one that best suits your needs.
Don’t rush through this process. Educating yourself on the available options, although it may take time, will ultimately guide you to a plan that fits your situation, includes the services you desire, and aligns with your budget, too.
If you’d like help walking through the enrollment process, talk to one of InsureOne Benefits’ open enrollment specialists. We can help guide you through the confusing process of evaluating Marketplace plans and hone in on the one that best fits you and your family. Give us a call today!
Have you thought about the life changes that you have experienced and how they will affect your coverage for the next year?