Open Enrollment: #GetCovered!

Open Enrollment: #GetCovered!

This week marks the beginning of a very condensed Open Enrollment. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions:

Do I need coverage through the Marketplace?

You will need to choose a plan if you do not have coverage through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or other qualifying coverage. You may have to pay a fee if you are uncovered.

How do I enroll in coverage?

You can find a plan at healthcare.gov, or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. We also encourage you to meet with one of our navigators to find coverage. This service is available at no cost, and Navigators will not pressure consumers into choosing a health plan. We provide assistance to consumers in 15 counties: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, and Union.

I already have insurance through the Marketplace, do I need to do anything?

Yes, if you go to healthcare.gov, you can click on “Keep or Update your Plan”. We recommend making an appointment with a navigator to look at all of your different options. There may be a new plan that will work out better for you, but! you need to login and update your information to find out.  

If you don’t login and update your information before December 15, you may be automatically enrolled in a plan for 2018. You should have gotten a letter from your insurance company that says whether or not you’ll be automatically enrolled in your 2017 plan or a similar plan.

What do I need to enroll?

Your information: Name, date of birth, etc.

Information about your household: Your spouse, your children who live with you (even if they make enough money to file their own tax return), anyone you include on your tax return as a dependent (even if they don’t live with you), anyone else under 21 who you take care of and who lives with you, your unmarried partner only if one or both of these apply: they are either your dependent for tax purposes, or they are the parent of your child.

Home and/or mailing address: If your mailing address is not the same as your home address, pick a mailing address in the state you live in, if you can. You can enter a street address or a P.O. Box.

Information about everyone applying for coverage: This is basic information about everyone applying for coverage, including their relationship to you.

Social Security Numbers for everyone on your application: You will need social security numbers for everyone on your application, even those not applying for coverage.

Immigration document information: If you or anyone else on your application is a lawfully present immigrant, you’ll be asked to provide information from your immigration documents.

Information on how you’ll file your taxes: The Marketplace will need to know whether you file separately or jointly if you are married, and who you claim as a tax dependent.

Employer & income information for everyone in your household: The Marketplace application may ask you about income, expenses, and deductions of everyone in your household, including those not applying for coverage.

Your best estimate of your household income: It’s okay to make a best estimate of your income, but if it changes, or if it’s different than what you estimated, you will need to report this later.

Health coverage information: If anyone in your household is currently enrolled in health coverage, you will need their policy numbers. It can be found on their insurance card or documents they get from their plan.

Employer information: Your application will ask you to enter information about offers of health coverage you may have through your job, or through a family member’s job. You will also need to enter employer contact information for each person in your household who has a job.

A completed “Employer Coverage Tool”: You should fill out one of these forms for each member of your family who is eligible for a job-based plan, even if they aren’t enrolled in the job-based plan, or aren’t applying for Marketplace coverage. This tool can help you gather information you may need for your application, all in one spot.  

When do I need to enroll by?

December 15th is the deadline to enroll in a plan for 2018.  

The only way that you will be able to enroll after this date is if you have a qualifying life event. There are four types of qualifying life events:

  1. Loss of health coverage
    1. Losing existing health coverage
    2. Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
    3. Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent’s plan
  2. Changes in household
    1. Getting married or divorced
    2. Having a baby or adopting a child
    3. Death in the family
  3. Changes in residence
    1. Moving to a different zip code or county
    2. A student moving to or from the place they attend school
    3. A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work
  4. Other qualifying events
    1. Changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for
    2. Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder
    3. Becoming a U.S. citizen
    4. Leaving incarceration
    5. AmeriCorps members starting or ending their service

For a complete list of qualifying life events, click here.

Any other questions? Talk to one of our navigators! Again, this service is FREE and our navigators will not pressure you to choose a health plan. And don’t forget that you need to enroll for coverage by December 15!

All information from healthcare.gov

By |2017-12-13T20:25:35-05:00November 1st, 2017|Categories: Education, Health Insurance Navigation|Comments Off on Open Enrollment: #GetCovered!

About the Author:

Brittany is the Marketing Coordinator at Suwannee River AHEC.
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