Affordable Care Act enrollment deadline nears for coverage to start Jan. 1. What to know [The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)]

Dec. 13—Americans enrolling in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act need to sign up soon if they want coverage by the start of next year.

Open enrollment — which began Nov. 1 — runs until Jan. 15, 2022. But for 2022 coverage that starts by Jan. 1, eligible Americans need to enroll or make changes by Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Those who miss that deadline and instead enroll by Jan. 15 won't see their coverage start until Feb. 1, and those who don't enroll by Jan. 15 won't be able to get coverage in 2022 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Here's what to know about the Dec. 15 deadline.

Who needs to take action?

People who need to enroll in, re-enroll in or make changes to health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will need to meet the Dec. 15 deadline to ensure coverage starts on Jan. 1.

Those who already have marketplace coverage in 2021 and want to keep their same plan in 2022 should also update their application to reflect any changes to their incomes or households, as they may qualify for more savings or may be able to find a plan that better fits their needs, according to HealthCare.gov.

More people than ever are eligible for help paying for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and people already enrolled in the marketplace may qualify for more savings under a provision included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

Who is eligible to enroll

To buy insurance through the marketplace, people need to live in the U.S. and be a U.S. citizen or national.

People who are incarcerated are not eligible for enrollment.

Additionally, people who are enrolled in Medicare are not eligible to buy health or dental insurance through the marketplace. Those who have Medicare coverage now do not need to take action.

How to enroll in 2022 coverage

Those who are new to the marketplace will need to create an account using their basic information.

Some states — including California, Idaho, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Washington — run their own health care marketplaces. Those who live in those states can find information on where and how to apply on the HealthCare.gov website.

After creating an account, users can apply on the HealthCare.gov site, through a "certified enrollment partner's website," through the call center, through the mail or by contacting an "agent/broker or assister." The HealthCare.gov site includes a checklist of the information people will need to have ready to apply.

Once their application is complete, applicants will be able to see if they qualify for a marketplace insurance plan with savings, such as "tax credits to help pay monthly premiums, or lower copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles." They can also see if they qualify for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program and get an estimate.

Applicants can then compare plans and prices in their area and pick the one that's best for them. They will need to pay their premium to their insurance company for coverage to start.

How to make changes

Those who already have marketplace coverage in 2021 can log in to their account to make changes to or renew their coverage for 2022.

Even those who "may be automatically re-enrolled" should update any changes to their income or household as their "savings could be wrong" otherwise, according to HealthCare.gov. They should also compare plans to make sure they don't "miss out on new plans and prices that better meet your needs."

About the American Rescue Plan provision

The American Rescue Plan included a temporary increase in tax credits for many people who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Those credits reduce or eliminate the premiums that eligible Americans pay for coverage. Additionally, more people are eligible for subsidies under the provision.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said coverage is "more affordable than ever."

"Four out of five people can find a plan for $10 or less per month with this newly expanded financial assistance," it said. "Additionally, there are more coverage options this season than last, with the average consumer being able to choose between six and seven insurance companies with plan options."

___

(c)2021 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)

Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.