Have you enrolled for health insurance yet? If the answer is no, it’s not too late to apply!
December 15, 2017 was the last enrollment deadline for consumers who wanted coverage that begins on January 1, 2018. But for those who signed up during the second half of the month of December (December 16 -31), coverage took effect on February 1, 2018. Open Enrollment ended January 31, 2018.
In communities across the country, Americans are turning to HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov to get covered for 2018. As of the end of December 2017, more than 8.8 million consumers selected coverage during Open Enrollment, including a million new consumers.
Missed the Deadline, but Still Need Insurance?
If you missed the deadline for enrolling or renewing health insurance, there are still some options for you. You may be elligible for a special enrollment period, or qualify for a health coverage exemption.
Special Enrollment Period
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If you experience certain types of life changes — like losing health coverage, getting married, or having a baby — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a Marketplace plan for the rest of 2018.
- Start an application. If you already know you qualify, start an application now or log in to an existing account.
- Before you apply, you can preview 2018 plans and prices. Answer a few questions to see plans and with estimated prices based on your income.
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See life events that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.
Exemptions
If you qualify for a health coverage exemption, you don’t have to pay the fee for the months you didn’t have health coverage. This does not mean you are exempt or excused from having health insurance.
1. Income-related exemptions
- The lowest-priced coverage available to you, through either a Marketplace or job-based plan, would cost more than 8.16% of your household income. Get details about the Marketplace affordability exemption or the job-based affordability exemption.
- You don’t have to file a tax return because your income does not meet the tax filing requirement. Learn how to claim the exemption if your income is below the tax filing threshold.
2. Hardship exemptions
- You had a financial hardship or other circumstancess that prevented you from getting health insurance. Application required. See all hardship exemptions and get the application form.
3. Health coverage-related exemptions
- You were uninsured for no more than two consecutive months of the year. Get details about the short gap exemption.
- You lived in a state that didn’t expand its Medicaid program and your household income was below 138% of the federal poverty level. Get details about this exemption.
4. Group membership exemptions
- You’re a member of a federally recognized tribe or eligible for services through an Indian Health Services provider. Get details about the Indian health coverage exemption.
- You’re a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry. Get details about the health care sharing ministry exemption.
- You’re a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare. Application required. Get forms and details for the religious exemption.
5. Other exemptions
- You’re incarcerated (serving a term in prison or jail). Get details about the incarceration exemption.
- You’re a U.S. citizen living abroad, a certain type of non-citizen, or not lawfully present. (Learn more about the definition of “lawfully present.”) Get details about this exemption.
- A member of your tax household was born or adopted during the year. This exemption applies only to the month of the event and the month before. You can claim this exemption only if you’re also claiming another exemption.
- A member of your tax household died during the year. This exemption applies only to the month of the death and the month before. You can claim this exemption only if you’re also claiming another exemption.
See if You Qualify for Savings Right Now
Before you apply, you can quickly see if you’ll qualify for savings based on your income.
We'll make sure you get the right health insurance without the confusion. Request an appointment.
Finding the Right Plan for You
Finding a good health plan means balancing how much you pay each month with how much health care you think you and your family are going to need during the year.
If you’re healthy and don’t go to the doctor very often, then a plan with a low monthly premium (the amount that must be paid for your coverage) would probably cost you the least. But if you need to go to the doctor a lot, or you need a lot of expensive prescriptions, you should look at plans where the cost of getting care, or how much you pay out of your own pocket (like coinsurance or a copayment), will be lower.
When you shop for plans in the Marketplace, they’re put into five categories (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic) to help you sort out what you can afford based on your health care needs. The category you choose affects the cost of your monthly premium, and what portion of the bill you pay for things like hospital visits or prescriptions – but it doesn’t reflect the quality or amount of care plans provide.
* NOTE: Catastrophic Plans are available only to people under 30 years old or to people who have a hardship exemption. To learn more about “hardship exemptions,” visit HealthCare.gov/fees-exemptions/hardship-exemptions.
Apicha Health Insurance Navigators
If you have more questions, or you would just like someone to walk through the application process with you, our Apicha CHC New York state-certified health insurance navigators want to help you apply for health insurance. You can reach them by calling 1.866.APICHA9.
You can also find more information on our website about our health insurance open enrollment resources or request an appointment to go over your application. Simply fill out the form and choose health insurance from the drop-down menu.
