obamacare – Jon L. Cannon

Important Health Care Enrollment Dates

November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment started — first day you can enroll in a 2016 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2016.
December 15, 2015: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start January 1, 2016
January 1, 2016: 2016 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15.
January 15, 2016: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start February 1, 2016
January 31, 2016: 2016 Open Enrollment ends. Enrollments or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect March 1, 2016.

If you don’t enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (see below.)

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

A time outside of the open enrollment period during which you and your family have a right to sign up for health coverage. In the Marketplace, you qualify for a special enrollment period 60 days following certain life events that involve a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or loss of other health coverage. Job-based plans must provide a special enrollment period of 30 days.

Aflac, Health Insurance

What’s worse? Taxes, dental visit or health insurance?

What’s worse? Taxes, a dental visit or health insurance? Survey finds Americans really hate shopping for health insurance!

Everyone knows shopping for health insurance isn’t fun, but it’s not as bad as doing your own taxes, right? Wrong. A recent Bankrate survey found that Americans hate shopping for health insurance. Make that really hate shopping for health insurance. They hate it so much that 75 percent of survey participants said comparing health plans is as bad as or worse than doing their own taxes.

Contact me for information about any of your insurance needs (i.e. life, health, dental, vision, home, auto, supplemental, medicare, or commercial insurance.)

Yep, shopping for insurance is apparently beyond awful. It’s so awful that 73 percent of participants said it’s as bad as or worse than being stuffed in the middle seat of an airplane, while 64 percent said it’s as bad as or worse than having a tooth filled. Read more…

Health Insurance

Do You Qualify for Help Paying Your Health Insurance?

Did you miss out on getting help paying for your health plan?

Many individuals and families are eligible for financial assistance that lowers the cost of your plan. Are you one of them? See what you could SAVE by taking a few minutes to use this subsidy estimator.

Need help choosing the right health insurance plan for you and your family? Need assistance with the subsidy estimator? If so, contact me and I will walk you step-by-step through the process and explain the options available for you.

What is a subsidy?

A subsidy is a kind of assistance that helps you pay for something – in this case, health coverage. You can use the subsidy estimator to find out if you may be eligible for financial assistance from the government that helps lower the cost of your health plan. You only need to tell us four things:

The number of adults that will be insured by your plan and their ages.
The number of household members age 20 and younger that will be insured by your plan.
Your household income.
The county you live in.

Knowing if you’ll get a subsidy can make a difference in how you choose individual health insurance. It’s just like shopping for anything else. You have more options when you know you’ll be saving money.

Health Insurance

2015 HEALTHCARE OPEN ENROLLMENT

The Open Enrollment period for 2015 coverage is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015.

If you haven’t enrolled in 2015 coverage by February 15, you generally can’t buy Marketplace health coverage for 2015 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Deadlines if you have 2014 coverage

If you’re enrolled in a 2014 Marketplace plan, your coverage ends December 31, 2014. This is true no matter when your 2014 coverage began.
To continue health coverage in 2015, you can renew your current health plan or choose a new plan through the Marketplace until February 15, 2015.
If you want a new plan to start January 1, 2015, you must renew or change your plan by December 15, 2014. Learn about your 2015 options if you have 2014 coverage.
If you need assistance with your healthcare coverage, contact me, I can help!

2015 enrollment and coverage start dates

During 2015 Open Enrollment, if you enroll or change plans:

Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second following month. So if you enroll on January 16, your coverage starts on March 1.
Between February 1, 2015 and the deadline of February 15, 2015, your 2015 coverage begins March 1, 2015.

You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time.

If you own or operate a small business, you can start offering coverage to your employees any time. Contact me for a FREE GROUP QUOTE!

If you don’t enroll in 2015 coverage

If you don’t have health coverage during 2015, you may have to pay a penalty. The fee in 2015 is higher than it was for 2014 — 2% of your income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more.

If you need assistance with your healthcare coverage, contact me, I can help!