Let us commence the welcoming of winter-weather, holiday festivities and wrapping up an entire decade as we sail through December and bid farewell to 2019! Buckle up—December is a fast-paced month filled with many to-dos. As you keep up with this festive month, don’t forget to secure 2020 health coverage before the mid-December Open Enrollment Deadline. This is particularly important for those individuals and families who don’t go through an employer for health coverage.
Buying your own health insurance?
Open Enrollment is the only time each year most individuals can purchase Affordable Care Act (ACA)1 plans and determine their eligibility for tax credit subsidies or cost-sharing reductions, which are both designed to reduce premium costs for ACA plans. The federal Open Enrollment deadline for enrolling in an ACA plan for 2020 is December 15th, 2019. Coverage selected by this deadline will go into effect on January 1st, 2020.
State-run Marketplaces Deadlines may vary:
- California – January 15, 2020
- Colorado – January 15, 2020
- Massachusetts – January 23, 2020
- Washington DC – January 31, 2020
- Rhode Island – December 31, 2019
- New York – January 31, 2020
Please note: if selecting a plan after December 15th in the above-referenced states, your plan’s start date may be February 1st or March 1st, 2020. Idaho is also considering extending to December 16th.
What to consider when purchasing a health plan?
When buying health coverage many factors come into play that will determine which plans best fit your needs.
- Your health history and how often you use health care services
- Your health needs and preferences
- The coverage offerings in your area. Carrier availability varies by state and even county.
- Your monthly budget for health expenses, keeping in mind monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for services used throughout the year.
- Knowing insurance terms can help you better understand how plans and prices work and piece together the best plan for your health and financial needs
Consider speaking to a health insurance agent to help you make a confident decision.
Insurance Agents are experts on insurance and use their knowledge to find plans that serve your best interest, acting as a personal advisor on insurance matters. We’ve compiled a few reasons why working with an agent can be a smooth, knowledgeable and helpful experience as you determine which health plan to go with for the 2020 coverage year.
Speak to a licensed agent to:
- Get information on products in your area
- See what health insurance fits your budget
- Learn what coverage could best fit your needs
- Ask questions
- Get an understanding of your insurance options
- Enroll in coverage with the assistance of a licensed expert
