As the weather starts to get colder, it is a sign for
Navigators that Open Enrollment is just around the corner. We are taking the valuable lessons learned
last year and organizing for a successful Enrollment in 2015.
If you currently have a Marketplace plan or you are
interested in a plan for 2015, here are some key dates you should know:
• November 15, 2014 - Open Enrollment
begins. Apply for, keep, or change your coverage.
• December 15, 2014 - Enroll by the 15th
if you want new coverage that begins on January 1, 2015. If your plan is
changing or you want to change plans, enroll by the 15th to avoid a lapse in
coverage.
• December 31, 2014 - Coverage ends for
2014 plans. Coverage for 2015 plans can start as soon as January 1st.
• February 15, 2015 - This is the last
day you can apply for 2015 coverage before the end of Open Enrollment.
Since none of us have filed our 2014 taxes, it may be
difficult to remember the Individual Responsibility Payment for qualifying
people who do not have health insurance coverage. This “fee” or “fine” will increase for the
2015 tax year. For your 2015 taxes, the
penalty will be 2% of your income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child,
whichever is more. Many Hoosiers will
not be responsible for paying this fee even if they don’t have a Qualified
Health Plan (QHP), but you can find out more by checking here.
As you are deciding which date will work best for you to
enroll in a Marketplace plan, keep in mind what dates the coverage will
start. During Open Enrollment, if you
enroll:
- · Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
- · Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second following month. So if you enroll on March 16, your coverage starts on May 1.
You can apply four ways:
online, by phone, by mail, or in-person with the help of a trained
assistor or Navigator. Meridian Health
Services has licensed Navigators who are happy to help. You can call Meridian to set up an
appointment with a Navigator by calling (765) 288-1928 or email us at info@meridianhs.org. We currently have Navigators in the following
Indiana counties: Delaware, Wayne, Jay,
Henry, Randolph, Rush, and Union. If you
do not live in these counties but still need assistance, you can visit http://www.healthcare.gov to find a list
of Navigators near you. You can also
call the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.
