State health insurance deadlines approaching

Maryland residents have just over a week to enroll, through the state’s health insurance marketplace, into private health coverage plans which take effect Jan. 1, 2022, and less than a month to enroll at all.

This year, open enrollment through Maryland Health Connection runs a month longer than in recent years, ending on Jan. 15, 2022 the health insurance marketplace said in a news release. Those who enroll by Dec. 31, 2021, getting coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2022, and anyone who enrolls during the first two weeks of January getting coverage beginning Feb. 1, 2022.

“New federal and state laws offer financial help for those who did not qualify in the past,” Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, said in the release. “More than three-quarters of those who already have enrolled qualified for savings on their 2022 plans.”

The release also says there is a new state subsidy to lower costs for enrollees between 18 and 34, and more than 45,000 young adults have enrolled in private coverage for 2022 since Nov. 1. Two-thirds of them have qualified for the additional subsidy to lower their monthly bills about $36 on average.

The enrollment period is for private health plans only. Those who qualify for Medicaid may enroll any time of year.

Shop and enroll online at Mar ylandHealthConnection.gov or with the marketplace’s mobile app. For free help from a navigator or broker, visit https:// www.mar ylandhealthconnection.gov/find-help/ or call Maryland Health Connection at 855-642-8572.