Deadline Approaching For ACA Sign-Up

The original deadline for January 1 start coverage was supposed to be at midnight Pacific Time today.

Tuesday’s deadline is the first in this year’s open enrollment cycle mandated by the Affordable Care Act law. “This strong participation is further indication that businesses are investing in open enrollment because they believe it is good for their business and their customers”.

“Because of the unprecedented demand and volume of consumers contacting our call center or visiting HealthCare.gov, we are extending the deadline to sign-up for January 1 coverage until 11:59pm PST December 17”, Marketplace CEO Kevin Counihan said in a statement.

Those who already have marketplace coverage and wish to re-enroll should update their applications and plan selections for 2016.

Outside of open enrollment periods, consumers may change insurance plans only if they have a Qualifying Life Event, such as a birth, marriage/divorce, moving, loss of coverage from a job, etc. The Doctor and Facility Lookup feature and the Prescription Drug Lookup feature are now fully deployed and available to all consumers searching for plans on HealthCare.gov. She says even though the Affordable Care Act has helped bring uninsured rates down in mountain towns, community health clinics continue to play a critical role providing primary and dental care.

“So you get married, you get divorced, you have a baby, you lose your job or lose insurance coverage”, Weeden said.

While insurance protects consumers from large medical bills and provides peace of mind, it is also the law that Americans now have health insurance, or they may face a tax penalty.

Term health insurance plans are a compelling alternative for dissatisfied Obamacare consumers who struggle with the cost of those plans.

Bruce Donaldson, outreach manager for Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace has been busy this year training almost one hundred insurance brokers and agents.

She said BeWellNM also offers insurance plans for small businesses year-round.

Since Nov. 1, more than a million new customers have selected a health plan for 2016 through HealthCare.gov, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on Thursday.

If you miss the deadline to get health coverage that does not mean you will be automatically penalized. Together, with the help of many, we’ve created meaningful change, especially in health care.

Additionally, the exchange’s online marketplace received more than 43 million page views between November 1 and December 10.

“Honestly, for most people, an ACA plan is the right plan”, Stahl said. This may place many people under a great deal of financial pressure, which may drive some consumers to abandon their insurance coverage. Employers with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees will be required to offer health coverage, and potentially subsidize that coverage, for eligible employees. As a result, when you buy a short-term policy, you go into it knowing that it is going to run out on you after a set period of time.