If you’re looking to enroll or modify your individual or family health insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2018, time is running out. The open enrollment period ends this Friday, December 15th. This year’s window is notably shorter, lasting only 45 days compared to previous years when participants had nearly three months to sign up.
Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, individuals can secure health insurance via their state’s exchange or individual marketplace during this designated enrollment period. Exceptions exist for those who qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to significant life changes such as marriage, divorce, or having a baby, as well as for those eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
To check your eligibility and get started, visit Healthcare.gov. If you’d like to review available plans and their pricing before committing, you can do that here. Keep in mind that any plans you enroll in during this period will take effect on January 1, 2018. There’s also an instructional video available to guide you through the sign-up process.
This year, the Trump administration has significantly reduced funding for promotional efforts related to open enrollment, cutting spending from $100 million down to just $10 million. Additionally, support for “navigators,” who assist individuals in signing up for coverage, has been cut by 41 percent. This outreach is crucial, particularly in the final days of enrollment, as it tends to drive a surge in sign-ups, especially among younger individuals.
Remember, you need to enroll under the ACA if you lack health insurance from another source—such as your employer or a spouse’s employer—if you don’t have government coverage like Medicare or Medicaid, if you’ve aged out of a parent’s health plan at 26, and if you qualify for tax credits to help offset your insurance costs.
Over 20 million people benefit from the major aspects of Barack Obama’s health care law, which seeks to decrease the number of uninsured individuals and provide access to quality coverage at more affordable rates.
If you haven’t yet signed up, now is the time to act. For more information on related topics, visit our other blog post here, which discusses important aspects of home insemination.
Summary
The open enrollment for the ACA ends this Friday, December 15th. This period is notably shorter than previous years, with only 45 days to sign up for health insurance. Individuals can enroll through their state’s health insurance exchange, except those eligible for Special Enrollment due to life changes. With reduced funding for outreach this year, it’s crucial for eligible individuals to act quickly if they haven’t enrolled yet.