Access Health CT extends deadline to change or enroll in health insurance plan

Day, The (New London, CT)

Dec. 23--Connecticut residents have until Jan. 15 to pick or change their health insurance plan for 2020 after Access Health CT extended the deadline for people to sign up.

Coverage will begin on Feb. 1 for those who sign up between now and Jan. 15. Those who previously signed up for coverage can change their plan during the extension period, but they must pay their premium bill for their original policy for the month of January. Their new policy and premium would begin on Feb. 1.

Andrea Ravitz, a spokeswoman for Access Health CT, said the extension gives people more time to shop around and pick the health insurance plan that is right for them. She said this time of year is when people first start getting their bills from insurance companies, and with many people automatically enrolled in a plan they often don't notice any changes right away.

As of Monday, 104,439 Connecticut residents were enrolled in health insurance plans through Access Health CT, the state's official health insurance marketplace.

While many states saw an increase in the number of its residents without health insurance, Connecticut's uninsured population dipped from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent last year, according to Census figures.

Still, nearly 187,000 Connecticut residents are not covered.

"We still have a lot of work to do," Ravitz said, explaining that Access Health CT carries out education and outreach efforts year-round, and is not just focused on the open enrollment period.

A "huge focus" she said is helping individuals, who have enrolled but haven't provided necessary documents such as information verifying their income, Ravitz said. Each year, 10 percent of those who enroll don't provide necessary documentation.

Access Health CT is hosting several enrollment fairs from now until Jan. 15 to provide one-on-one help to sign up or complete an enrollment application and assist residents in selecting a plan. A fair will be held on Jan. 11 at the Opportunities Industrialization Center in New London from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A full list of upcoming enrollment fairs can be found at https://learn.accesshealthct.com/findus/.

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