Open Enrollment has officially began. It started this morning, November 1, 2015 and will continue until January 31, 2016.
There is always confusion surrounding Open Enrollment so to help you know key dates and key deadlines, we wanted to make sure you know the facts. Here are a few of those facts:
November 1, 2015 – Open Enrollment for 2016 Marketplace coverage begins. This means that you can shop for health insurance on ether Healthcare.gov or directly through the insurance companies in your state. The team at Balanced Care is certified to offer plans through Healthcare.gov, can help calculate if you qualify for a subsidy, help you pick a plan, and lastly, share information on how to best use that policy to your full advantage.
December 15, 2015 – Deadline to enroll in a plan with a 1/1/2016 effective date.
January 15, 2015 – Deadline to enroll in a plan with a 2/1/2016 effective date.
January 31, 2016 – Last day to enroll in a healthcare plan for 2016 coverage.
It is important to note here that unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (moving out of state, losing coverage through an employer, etc), the Open Enrollment is the only time of the year that you can enroll in a plan. The penalty for not have a qualifed healthcare plan in 2016 goes up to 2.5% of your household income or $695.00 per person whichever is greater. Children under the age of 18 can also be penalized and the penalty is $347.50.
The team at Balanced Care is here to help. Protect yourself, your family, and let us help you get covered in 2016!
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurance products and how they help families. Her goal with Balanced Care is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.