Idahoans can enroll in health insurance policies through state exchange by Dec. 15

Idahoans can now enroll in health and dental insurance through Idaho’s health care exchange, Your Health Idaho, for policies in 2024.

Your Health Idaho, which offers tax credits to Idahoans based on their income, began open enrollment last week, on Oct. 15. Enrollment will stay open until midnight Dec. 15.

Outside of the once-a-year open enrollment period, people who experience what insurers call a qualifying life event — such as losing insurance coverage, moving, having a baby or getting married — can enroll in policies on the exchange.

Idahoans can find out within minutes how much their tax credits would be, which could cover some or all of their monthly health insurance premiums, Your Health Idaho announced in a news release last week. Applying for a tax credit and health insurance is on the same application, the news release said.

“While prices for almost everything seem to be trending up, Idahoans will see decreases in health insurance in 2024. We hope all Idahoans who need coverage but don’t think they can afford it will take a moment to see what Your Health Idaho has to offer; they’ll be surprised at just how affordable health insurance can be,” Your Health Idaho Executive Director Pat Kelly said in the release.

More than 88% of people enrolled on plans through Your Health Idaho get a tax credit, with about one in four receiving monthly premium-free insurance, the exchange said in the news release. The exchange says many Idahoans qualify for cost-sharing reductions, only available on silver plans, which offer extra savings for co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

Most counties have six to eight insurance carriers to choose from, with at least four carriers each, the release said. Through Your Health Idaho, Idahoans can access 154 medical and 21 dental plans, the release said.

Idahoans unsure about enrolling or knowing if they can get a tax credit should work for free with agents or brokers, Your Health Idaho recommended in the release. The insurance exchange’s search tool lets people search for brokers and agents by location and languages spoken.

Enrollment in Your Health Idaho insurance plans is open to people who primarily reside in Idaho and must be considered a U.S. and Idaho resident for tax purposes, according to the exchange’s website. People incarcerated do not qualify. Potential enrollees must be U.S. citizens or nationals, or non-citizens who are lawfully in the U.S. for the entire time they plan to have health coverage, the exchange’s website says.

Idahoans with “unaffordable” insurance sponsored by their jobs can also enroll in Your Health Idaho, the news release said. Agents can help determine if employer-sponsored coverage is considered unaffordable, the news release said.

Insurance coverage for people who select plans during open enrollment starts Jan. 1, 2024. Idahoans enrolled in insurance through Your Health Idaho are automatically renewed, the release said.