Are you or someone you know planning to apply for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace? Then you might want to take note of the following important dates for the upcoming enrollment period.
Key Dates for 2015 Marketplace Enrollment
The 2015 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period is fast approaching! This open enrollment period is when you can apply for 2015 health insurance coverage through the marketplace. If you are considering a marketplace insurance plan, or want change an existing marketplace insurance plan, you need to know these important dates. These four key dates are crucial to ensuring you receive the marketplace health insurance benefits you want for 2015:
November 15, 2014 – The 2015 calendar year Open Enrollment period begins. You can apply for insurance coverage, choose to keep existing coverage, or change your coverage.
December 15, 2014 – This is the enrollment cut off date for coverage to begin on January 1st, 2015. If you want new coverage to begin on January 1st, your application must be completed by December 15. If you are changing plan coverage, you need to enroll by this date to prevent a lapse in coverage.
December 31, 2014 – Coverage ends for 2014. New coverage can begin as early as January 1st, 2015, so long as the application has been submitted by December 15th.
February 15, 2015 – Open enrollment ends. This is the last day you can apply for a 2015 Health Insurance Marketplace plan.
Mark your calendar now to ensure you don’t miss these important health insurance enrollment dates!
Key Marketplace Enrollment Information
Here is additional information you want to take note of to keep your 2015 Marketplace health insurance coverage on track. During Open Enrollment:
If you enroll between the 1st and 15th of the month, your coverage starts the 1st day of the next month.
If you enroll between the 16th and last day of the month, your coverage begins the first day of the 2nd following month. In other words, if you enroll on December 16, your coverage will not start until February 1st.
Those With Current 2014 Marketplace Coverage:
Your 2014 coverage will end on December 31st.
Those enrolled through the federal Marketplace will be automatically re-enrolled in their existing plan. Note that those enrolled in Medicaid will need to re-enroll.
If you want to change coverage, you will need to do so between November 15 and December 15 to ensure your coverage begins on January 1.
Outside The Open Enrollment Period:
If you miss the February 15th, 2015 final enrollment date, you may not be able to purchase Marketplace health coverage for 2015.
You may buy Marketplace insurance only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life event. Learn more about how to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
You can enroll in Medicaid or CHIP at any time.
Connect With Health Insurance Marketplace
Enrolling for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace can raise a lot of questions. Don’t feel you have to “go it alone.” There are several resources available for you to reach out and get answers to your Health Insurance Marketplace questions.
Got Questions? Call the Marketplace directly at (800) 318-2596 or TTY (855) 889-4325. The lines are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, except certain holidays.
Keep Up-to-Date – Subscribe to receive email or text message updates about new health insurance options and benefits.
Read the Healthcare.gov Blog – The Blog is full of helpful information and resources that can help you through the enrollment period.
Get Answers – Check the Marketplace Get Answers page for more more information about health coverage.
You can also follow what’s happening at the Health Insurance Marketplace via their Social Media venues: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.
How Can We Help?
Delaware Family Voices is here to help answer your questions before, during and after the Open Enrollment period. Please contact us and let us know how we can help you. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Images from Healthcare.Gov.