Top Facts for Consumers
· Join the millions. More than 8.5 million Americans have already signed up for 2016 coverage through HealthCare.gov. Join them by signing up before January 31.
· Sign up by Jan 15 for coverage starting on Feb 1. While the final enrollment deadline is January 31, if you sign up by January 15, your new plan can start on February 1. If you sign up after January 31, you’ll have to wait until March 1 for your coverage to begin.
· Financial Help is available to make coverage more affordable. About 8 in 10 of the uninsured who are eligible for Marketplace coverage qualify for financial assistance to lower the cost of their monthly premiums. In fact, many people can find low-premium plans for $75 or less per month.
· Options are available. In 2016, nearly 9 out of 10 returning consumers will be able to choose from 3 or more issuers for 2016 coverage. Consumers can chose from an average of almost 50 plans in their county.
· Picking a plan and signing up for coverage is easier than ever. Every year we find new ways to make signing-up for a plan simpler. You can even apply on a cell phone.
o A new Out of Pocket Cost estimator will help you estimate your total costs for the year including premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
o New Doctor Lookup and Prescription Drug Lookup features are available to help you find out which of your doctors and prescriptions may be covered by each plan before you sign up.
· Free, expert help is available. If you have questions about signing up or want to talk through your options with a trained professional, free help is just a call or click away.
o Representatives at the Call Center are available 24 hours a day, every day at 1-800-318-2596. Call Center representatives can answer questions and help you enroll in coverage over the phone.
· There’s still time to make changes. If you had coverage in 2015 and learned that your plan was automatically renewed for 2016, you still have time to shop plans and make changes. If you find better plan for your family is available, you can change plans at any time before the end of Open Enrollment on January 31, 2016.
· Remember, it pays to shop.. There may be plans available that offer the services you need, include more doctors, or save you money. More than 8 in 10 returning Marketplace consumers could save an average of about $50 per month and $610 annually in premiums before tax credits for the same level of coverage by returning to shop.
· Our priority is to make sure people are informed about the options available to their families.
· Having health insurance is the law.
o We believe, that for most families, the best option is to learn about the tax credits that are available and to enroll in a plan that meets their needs - rather than choosing to get by without insurance and risking having to pay a fee.
o About 8 in 10 of the uninsured who are eligible for Marketplace coverage qualify for financial assistance to lower the cost of their monthly premiums.
o Many people can find low-premium plans for $75 or less per month.
· We want to make sure people are aware that the penalty is going up next year.
o If people choose not to have health insurance in 2016, they are at risk of paying a fee.
o The fee for not having health insurance in 2016 is $695 per adult ($347.50 per child under 18) or 2.5 percent of your annual household income, whichever is higher.