A special enrollment period for those who are uninsured has been announced from February 15 - August 15. For those enrolling at healthcare.gov, you may also change your current plan if you need to. Most who enroll - 4 out of 5 people - are eligible for financial assistance.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, new subsidies and financial assistance have become available to Americans across the country. Beginning April 1st, those who use the federal exchange at healthcare.gov will be able to log on to see new subsidies they are eligible for an apply for them. Many people will find they will be able to move from a bronze level plan to a silver plan with lower deductibles. Those who qualify for a cost-sharing reduction will be able to enroll in a silver plan, and will see lower deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Those who choose not to log in and claim their new subsidies will be able to receive them during the 2021 tax season.
To see what your new subsidies would be, click here.
If you didn't qualify for subsidies before due to your income level, you likely will now. For those whose annual income was above 400% of the federal poverty level (the so-called fiscal cliff), subsidies will now be available because the limit has been lifted. Remember subsidies are only available if you enroll in coverage on either healthcare.gov or, if your state has its own exchange, their website. If you don't know your state's website, go to healthcare.gov and they will direct you there.
In addition, anyone who receives unemployment insurance during 2021 will automatically be considered for the rest of the year to have an annual income of 133% of the federal poverty level, and will see their premiums reduced in many cases to zero. If you enroll in a silver tier plan, this would also include cost-sharing reductions lowering deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. This will apply for the entire year, even if a person only receives only a week of unemployment or sees their income rise to above the level to usually qualify. This will help those in states that have not expanded Medicaid to access low or no-cost health insurance this year.
If you have lost your job and chose to continue your employer-sponsored insurance via the COBRA act, you will see your premiums covered at 100% through September 2021. If you have missed the 60 day window to enroll in COBRA in 2020, you may now go back and enroll retroactively. Premiums would not be required back to the start of coverage, but benefits for medical claims will only begin as of the date of enrollment.
Additionally, those who overestimated their income (MAGI) for 2020, will not be subject to repaying subsidies received in the 2020 tax filing reconciliation process on your tax form.
While many of these benefits have been put in place for the next two years only, we hope you will join with us as we work to have many of them extended and incorporated into the ACA in perpetuity.
To find free local help to get covered, please click here to go to the Get Covered Connector.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, new subsidies and financial assistance have become available to Americans across the country. Beginning April 1st, those who use the federal exchange at healthcare.gov will be able to log on to see new subsidies they are eligible for an apply for them. Many people will find they will be able to move from a bronze level plan to a silver plan with lower deductibles. Those who qualify for a cost-sharing reduction will be able to enroll in a silver plan, and will see lower deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Those who choose not to log in and claim their new subsidies will be able to receive them during the 2021 tax season.
To see what your new subsidies would be, click here.
If you didn't qualify for subsidies before due to your income level, you likely will now. For those whose annual income was above 400% of the federal poverty level (the so-called fiscal cliff), subsidies will now be available because the limit has been lifted. Remember subsidies are only available if you enroll in coverage on either healthcare.gov or, if your state has its own exchange, their website. If you don't know your state's website, go to healthcare.gov and they will direct you there.
In addition, anyone who receives unemployment insurance during 2021 will automatically be considered for the rest of the year to have an annual income of 133% of the federal poverty level, and will see their premiums reduced in many cases to zero. If you enroll in a silver tier plan, this would also include cost-sharing reductions lowering deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. This will apply for the entire year, even if a person only receives only a week of unemployment or sees their income rise to above the level to usually qualify. This will help those in states that have not expanded Medicaid to access low or no-cost health insurance this year.
If you have lost your job and chose to continue your employer-sponsored insurance via the COBRA act, you will see your premiums covered at 100% through September 2021. If you have missed the 60 day window to enroll in COBRA in 2020, you may now go back and enroll retroactively. Premiums would not be required back to the start of coverage, but benefits for medical claims will only begin as of the date of enrollment.
Additionally, those who overestimated their income (MAGI) for 2020, will not be subject to repaying subsidies received in the 2020 tax filing reconciliation process on your tax form.
While many of these benefits have been put in place for the next two years only, we hope you will join with us as we work to have many of them extended and incorporated into the ACA in perpetuity.
To find free local help to get covered, please click here to go to the Get Covered Connector.
Please right-click on the images below for 2021 Special Enrollment graphics with critters and other images to help spread the word and #GetAmericaCovered.
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Need help getting enrolled? Go to the Connector! Click here to find a navigator or assister near you and make an appointment.