Need health insurance coverage for 2016? You have until January 15, 2016 to enroll in or change plans for 2016 health insurance starting on February 1, 2016.

New to the Marketplace?

• Preview 2016 plans and prices based on your income before you apply. This year, 8 out of 10 people who enroll in health care coverage through HealthCare.gov qualify for savings that lower the cost of their monthly premiums.
• Ready to apply? Select your state to start a new application.

Already have a Marketplace plan?

• If you were automatically enrolled for 2016, your savings may not be accurate and you may have missed seeing new plans that work better for you.
• To get the right amount of health insurance savings, you should log in, update your information, and change plans as soon as possible.
• Learn more on why it’s important to update even if you were automatically enrolled.

LOG IN NOW

from Health Insurance Blog - Healthcare.gov http://ift.tt/1mjKgYt
via IFTTT

If you enrolled in or changed Marketplace health plans by December 17, 2015, your coverage will start January 1, 2016.

Important: After you’ve picked a new plan for 2016, you must complete one very important task to finish enrolling — you must pay your first month’s premium to your insurance company, not HealthCare.gov.

If you picked a new plan or enrolled for the first time and already paid your first month’s premium, your enrollment is complete. If you haven’t paid it yet, don’t delay.

Final step: Pay your premium to complete your enrollment

You must pay your first month’s premium by your health plan’s due date or you could lose your coverage. Each insurer is different, so pay careful attention to their due date.

You may be able to pay online. After you enroll in a plan at HealthCare.gov, you’ll be taken to your Enroll-To-Do list. If you see a green button that says “PAY FOR HEALTH PLAN,” your insurer accepts online payment. You’ll be taken to their payment portal when you click it.

If the button is grayed out, your insurer doesn’t accept online payment. Your insurer will contact you within a few days after you enroll with next steps and details on how to pay.

Need help?

• If you’re not sure you’ve successfully enrolled or paid your premium, contact your insurance company.
• Learn more about how to complete your enrollment.

from Health Insurance Blog - Healthcare.gov http://ift.tt/1mbTIwk
via IFTTT

The time to take action is now! The December 15, 2015 deadline to sign up for a Health Insurance Marketplace plan (so your coverage can start January 1, 2016) is quickly approaching. Be sure to apply and enroll today, so you don’t miss a day of being covered.

Plans may cost less than you think

This year, 8 out of 10 people who enroll in health coverage through HealthCare.gov qualify for savings that lower the cost of their monthly premiums. In fact, most people can find plans with premiums for less than $75 a month after tax credits.

Get covered or pay a fee

If you don’t have health coverage for 2016, you may have to pay a fee on your taxes. And for 2016, that penalty is increasing to $695 or 2.5% of your income — whichever is higher.

How to sign up today

• New to the Marketplace? Preview 2016 health insurance plans and prices now by answering a few questions on your income and household. Or get started now by creating an account.
• Have a 2015 Marketplace plan? New and more affordable health plans may be available this year. Log in to compare 2016 health plans and prices to your current coverage, update your application with any household or income changes, and enroll in a plan.

from Health Insurance Blog - Healthcare.gov http://ift.tt/1OXo5SJ
via IFTTT

Did you know that having health insurance when you can afford it is the law? If you can afford health insurance, but choose not to get it for 2016, you may be required to pay a fee — sometimes called the "penalty," "fine," or "individual mandate" — when you file your 2016 federal income taxes.

The good news is, affordable coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace is available. After financial help, 7 out of 10 people can find plans with premiums of less than $75 dollars per month. If you enroll by December 15, 2015, your coverage will start January 1, 2016.

Want to see plans and prices available to you before you apply? You can preview 2016 plans and prices here — you may be surprised to learn just how affordable health insurance can be.

Breaking it down: the fee

Here are 5 quick facts about the fee for not having health coverage when you can afford it:

1. The fee is calculated 1 of 2 ways, depending on your situation. It’s either a percentage of your annual household income or a set amount for each person in your household who doesn’t have health insurance. When you file your federal income taxes, if you’re uninsured for more than 3 months despite having access to affordable coverage, you’ll be required to pay whichever amount is higher. Learn how to estimate the fee you’ll have to pay if you don’t have health insurance based on your situation.
2. The fee is increasing for 2016. For 2015, the penalty for no health insurance is $325 per person or 2% of your annual household income – whichever is higher. For 2016, the fee is $695 or 2.5% of your income — whichever is higher. For many people, that’s more than the yearly cost of health plans they can find on HealthCare.gov.
3. Every month without coverage counts. The fee is calculated based on the number of months you and your household went without qualifying coverage. The more months you go without health coverage, the higher the fee, up to the maximum. (But if you’re uncovered for only 1 or 2 consecutive months, you don’t have to pay the fee at all.)
4. For some people, exemptions from the fee are available. People with very low incomes and those who meet other specific conditions can get an exemption from the requirement to have health insurance and won’t have to pay the fee. Learn more exemptions, and see if you qualify.
5. You have until January 31 to enroll in a 2016 plan to avoid the fee. The final deadline to sign up for 2016 coverage is January 31. A Special Enrollment Period around the April 15 tax filing deadline won’t be offered in 2016. If you don’t enroll by then, you could have to wait another year to get coverage and may have to pay the fee when you file your 2016 income taxes.

Ready to apply and avoid the fee?

Start an application or log in to an existing application.

from Health Insurance Blog - Healthcare.gov http://ift.tt/1M8qCTH
via IFTTT

Put this at the top of your December “to do” list: get health coverage and the peace of mind that comes with it. Don’t miss a day of being covered.

Important: You have until December 15, 2015 to sign up so your coverage can start January 1, 2016. That’s less than 2 weeks away.

Plans may cost less than you think — 8 out of 10 people who enroll in health coverage through HealthCare.gov qualify for financial help to lower the cost of their monthly premiums. In fact, most people can find plans with premiums for less than $75 a month after tax credits.

Remember: If you don’t have health coverage or an exemption for 2016, you’ll probably have to pay a fee on your taxes. And for 2016, that penalty is higher than ever.

Get started today

• New to the Marketplace? Preview 2016 health insurance plans and prices now by answering a few questions on your income and household. Or get started now by creating an account.
• Have a 2015 Marketplace plan? New and more affordable health plans may be available this year. Log in to compare 2016 health plans and prices to your current coverage, update your application with any household or income changes, and enroll in a plan.

from Health Insurance Blog - Healthcare.gov http://ift.tt/1HMcVii
via IFTTT