Missed the health care deadline? It's not too late
It's not too late to get covered. A few routes remain
open for those who missed the health care law's big enrollment deadline.
Millions may be eligible for a second chance to sign up for
subsidized insurance this year. And people who get coverage after the
deadline can still avoid, or at least reduce, the fine for going
uninsured.
Here are five options for those still without insurance:
1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRACE PERIOD
This special break was created for anyone who began enrolling in an
insurance marketplace by Monday's deadline but didn't finish. That
includes people stymied by website outages or overwhelmed phone lines,
missing information on applications, and other problems or confusion.
Those who started an application on HealthCare.gov should log on and
finish it soon. Federal officials say they will take what time is
necessary to work through cases pending online and will accept paper
applications until April 7. Rules vary in the 14 states running their
own insurance marketplaces.
For most people, going through a marketplace opens the door to lower
costs. Those who use the grace period will get coverage starting May 1
and won't owe a fine.
2. USE A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD
The government also is offering special extensions for a host of
problems that might have prevented people from signing up through a
marketplace: Natural disasters. Domestic abuse. A serious illness.
Mistakes by application counselors. Errors by insurance companies.
To seek a "special enrollment period," contact the federal call
center, at 1-800-318-2596, or your state marketplace and explain what
went wrong. It's on the honor system. If the extension is approved, that
brings another 60 days to enroll.
Also, at any time during the year, certain life events — such as
changing jobs, getting married or divorced, or becoming a parent — open a
60-day window to sign up for marketplace coverage.
3. SIGN UP FOR MEDICAID
Those who qualify can still enroll in Medicaid — there's no deadline.
Eligibility is based on income and varies from state to state. About
half the states expanded their Medicaid programs. The main beneficiaries
of the change are adults earning up to about $16,100 per year, with no
children living at home. Previously, Medicaid was limited mostly to poor
children and their parents and people with disabilities.
4. BUY INSURANCE OUTSIDE THE MARKETPLACES
Buyers can always go directly to an insurance company, but it may be
expensive. Plans bought outside the marketplaces don't come with
government subsidies that hold down the cost for people with low or
mid-level incomes. But they do include the law's consumer protections.
For example, insurers can't turn down customers because of pre-existing
medical conditions.
Even after the deadline, buying a plan that meets the law's essential
coverage standard reduces the penalty owed, which is based on the
number of months without coverage.
The fine for going uninsured all year is the greater of two formulas:
about 1 percent of household income above the tax-filing threshold of
$10,150 or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child under 18, up to $285 per
family. It's due to the IRS in April 2015.
5. GET READY FOR NEXT TIME
Open enrollment for 2015 is coming later this year. It's scheduled to
begin Nov. 15 and run just three months. That's another chance to get
covered or switch into a plan with subsidies.
Supporters of the law are calling on President Barack Obama to make things easier next time around.
The advocacy group Families USA suggested a bunch of improvements
Tuesday, including more face-to-face sign-ups, coordinating enrollment
with tax-filing season so people better understand the fines, and
improving coordination with Medicaid programs.
Something to think about: The uninsured penalty next year rises to 2 percent of income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child.
Missed the health care deadline? It's not too late
open for those who missed the health care law's big enrollment deadline.
Millions may be eligible for a second chance to sign up for
subsidized insurance this year. And people who get coverage after the
deadline can still avoid, or at least reduce, the fine for going
uninsured.
Here are five options for those still without insurance:
1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GRACE PERIOD
This special break was created for anyone who began enrolling in an
insurance marketplace by Monday's deadline but didn't finish. That
includes people stymied by website outages or overwhelmed phone lines,
missing information on applications, and other problems or confusion.
Those who started an application on HealthCare.gov should log on and
finish it soon. Federal officials say they will take what time is
necessary to work through cases pending online and will accept paper
applications until April 7. Rules vary in the 14 states running their
own insurance marketplaces.
For most people, going through a marketplace opens the door to lower
costs. Those who use the grace period will get coverage starting May 1
and won't owe a fine.
2. USE A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD
The government also is offering special extensions for a host of
problems that might have prevented people from signing up through a
marketplace: Natural disasters. Domestic abuse. A serious illness.
Mistakes by application counselors. Errors by insurance companies.
To seek a "special enrollment period," contact the federal call
center, at 1-800-318-2596, or your state marketplace and explain what
went wrong. It's on the honor system. If the extension is approved, that
brings another 60 days to enroll.
Also, at any time during the year, certain life events — such as
changing jobs, getting married or divorced, or becoming a parent — open a
60-day window to sign up for marketplace coverage.
3. SIGN UP FOR MEDICAID
Those who qualify can still enroll in Medicaid — there's no deadline.
Eligibility is based on income and varies from state to state. About
half the states expanded their Medicaid programs. The main beneficiaries
of the change are adults earning up to about $16,100 per year, with no
children living at home. Previously, Medicaid was limited mostly to poor
children and their parents and people with disabilities.
4. BUY INSURANCE OUTSIDE THE MARKETPLACES
Buyers can always go directly to an insurance company, but it may be
expensive. Plans bought outside the marketplaces don't come with
government subsidies that hold down the cost for people with low or
mid-level incomes. But they do include the law's consumer protections.
For example, insurers can't turn down customers because of pre-existing
medical conditions.
Even after the deadline, buying a plan that meets the law's essential
coverage standard reduces the penalty owed, which is based on the
number of months without coverage.
The fine for going uninsured all year is the greater of two formulas:
about 1 percent of household income above the tax-filing threshold of
$10,150 or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child under 18, up to $285 per
family. It's due to the IRS in April 2015.
5. GET READY FOR NEXT TIME
Open enrollment for 2015 is coming later this year. It's scheduled to
begin Nov. 15 and run just three months. That's another chance to get
covered or switch into a plan with subsidies.
Supporters of the law are calling on President Barack Obama to make things easier next time around.
The advocacy group Families USA suggested a bunch of improvements
Tuesday, including more face-to-face sign-ups, coordinating enrollment
with tax-filing season so people better understand the fines, and
improving coordination with Medicaid programs.
Something to think about: The uninsured penalty next year rises to 2 percent of income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child.
Missed the health care deadline? It's not too late
Comments