Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania's Open Enrollment Begins November 1

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 27 -- The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania issued the following news release:

Open enrollment for 2021 health insurance coverage in Pennsylvania begins November 1, 2020, and will continue through January 15, 2021. For the first time, Pennsylvanians in the individual market will sign up using Pennie, the new state-based insurance exchange. Data is being migrated from HealthCare.gov and enrollees are receiving instructions for claiming their new account on Pennie.

During September, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) formally launched Pennie, with the goals of increasing access and affordability specifically for Pennsylvanians through the state's reinsurance program. Insurers, for 2021 coverage, has proposed an overall average rate decrease of about 2.6 percent. Final approved rates for individual and group policies in Pennsylvania were announced October 15.

The enrollment process is much easier with this new exchange; Pennie walks you through each step of the process of purchasing health insurance and provides easy to understand online information along the way. Information and materials are available in English, Spanish, and other languages using a limited English proficiency resource.

December 15, 2020, will be the last day to purchase individual health coverage to be effective January 1, 2021. However, Pennsylvanians will still be able to purchase health coverage to be effective February 1, 2021, and beyond, until January 15, 2021. Pennsylvania extended the open enrollment period for an additional 30 days to give people more time to get coverage. The ability to extend or add enrollment periods is another benefit of a state-based exchange.

Pennsylvania residents with qualifying events can still enroll or make changes to their coverage for 2020. Anyone with insurance questions can contact the PID Consumer Services Bureau online or at (877) 881-6388.

Nearly a million people in Pennsylvania have affordable health insurance coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act's expanded Medicaid premium and premium subsidies.