The Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period: Key Points on Plan Selection and Enrollment Deadlines
The 2016 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period ends January 31. There are some other important things to know about enrollment deadlines, especially if you already have an ACA plan or Medicaid coverage through the ACA.
Key points on deadlines for renewing or getting health insurance
- If you need health insurance, you can get a plan through the Affordable Care Act marketplace! Sign up by Tuesday, December 15 to get coverage that starts January 1. If you enroll in a plan after that date, your coverage will begin as early as February 2016.
- If you already have a health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace and want to change plans for next year, you must change plans by Tuesday, December 15.
- If you have Medicaid coverage through the Affordable Care Act, be sure to renew your eligibility. Check with your state’s Medicaid office if you have any questions about how to renew your coverage.
Key points on plan selection
- When choosing a plan, think about the benefits you get from your insurance plan: how much will the plan pay for your care, including visits to your doctors, surgeries, radiation, drugs, and hospital stays?
- Check to see what physicians and hospitals are in the plan’s network and what drugs are on the plan’s formulary.
- Think also about what the plan will cost you in premiums, deductibles, and your share of the cost of doctor visits, drugs, and hospital stays.
- The plan with the lowest premium may not be the cheapest for you.
- Millions of Americans are eligible for help in paying the premium and for help in paying out-of-pocket costs (such as co-pays for visits to the doctor and co-insurance for a prescription).
- If you are eligible for help with your out-of-pocket costs, you must choose a Silver Plan.
