ACA open enrollment begins Nov. 1, closes Dec. 15

Oct. 18--The 2018 open enrollment period for the federal health insurance marketplace begins soon, with a shortened window and limited options.

Starting Nov. 1, individuals looking to sign up for health care under the Affordable Care Act can search plans at www.healthcare.gov or speak to a local navigator to determine which plan will work best for them. The enrollment window closes Dec. 15.

This year's open enrollment period is shorter than last year's by about two weeks; the previous enrollment period lasted through January 2015. The available weekend hours to search plans and enroll during the upcoming session is also shorter. The online marketplace will not be available from midnight to noon Eastern time on all but one Sunday during the roughly six-week period. The 12-hour shutdown of the online service is for maintenance, and Dec. 10 is the only Sunday that will not be interrupted, according to Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service on health care policy and politics.

Even with uncertainty about the future of the Affordable Care Act, local health representatives say those interested need to enroll.

"People still need to sign up, and the sooner they do it the better," said Nancy Woolery, Bloomington's health projects coordinator.

There have been repeated attempts to repeal and eventually replace the legislation commonly known as Obamacare by Republicans this year in Congress. Repealing the ACA was a major campaign promise of President Donald Trump, who recently issued executive orders that opponents say actively seek to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, including halting payments for cost-sharing reductions.

The federal government has also significantly reduced funding for its nationwide Navigator program by 41 percent. However, in Indiana, the cut is significantly higher. Indiana's funding was slashed from $1.6 million in 2016 to $297,704 in 2017, an 81 percent decrease, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Funding for advertising the open enrollment period was also cut this year, Woolery said, which is why she and others have been distributing fliers printed up by the United Way of Monroe County to local nonprofit agencies. Individuals with questions can call the city of Bloomington for assistance at 812-349-3851. ASPIN Health Navigators, Individual Solutions-IU Health, the Monroe County Health Department and Covering Kids & Families of SCCAP will also be providing assistance. For more information, visit www.bloomington.in.gov/health/insurance.

Woolery said she has received confirmation that CareSource will be the only carrier offering plans locally on the marketplace. Both Anthem Inc. and MDwise Marketplace announced their departure from the 2018 marketplace in June, citing the uncertain future of the Affordable Care Act.

"We don't know what the premiums are going to be until the marketplace opens up Nov. 1," Woolery said. "When the marketplace opens, it's best to talk to a navigator."

More than 12 million people enrolled on the state and federal marketplaces for 2017 coverage, including more than 9 million on the federal exchange.

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