MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOV. 1

MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION

OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOV. 1

DEC. 15 IS DEADLINE FOR JAN. 1 COVERAGE.

ENROLLMENT PERIOD ENDS JAN. 31

 

BALTIMORE (Oct. 29, 2015) – The third open enrollment for Maryland’s state-based marketplace for health coverage begins Nov. 1 with a wide network of consumer assistance workers to help provide greater in-person help for consumers, a more mobile-friendly website and a streamlined application process.

 

“Tens of thousands of people now have health coverage who didn’t before without worry about pre-existing conditions,” said Carolyn Quattrocki, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. “And it’s important to note that nine of every 10 people covered through MarylandHealthConnection.gov received some type of financial help to offset the cost of premiums.”

 

“We’ve talked to hundreds of consumers, stakeholders and medical and insurance professionals around the state since the last open enrollment,” she said, “and with their input, we’ve made many improvements to the process for this third year of the marketplace. We’re looking forward to another successful open enrollment.”

 

In 2015, more than 700,000 Marylanders enrolled through Maryland Health Connection in its second year, including 120,000 in private health insurance plans and more than 600,000 in Medicaid.

 

Improvements and highlights for 2016 include:

 

1. In-person assistance: More than 1,500 trained experts are available across the state to provide free assistance in enrolling. A list of “connector entity” (regional consumer assistance) offices and hours can be found on MarylandHealthConnection.gov as well as searchable tools to locate participating brokers and navigators nearest you.

 

2. Enrollment fairs: A list of events featuring assisters ready to enroll consumers at major venues across the state can be found at MarylandHealthConnection.gov and will be publicized throughout open enrollment.

 

3. Financial support: Nine in 10 Marylanders qualified for financial help to help lower or even waive the cost of health coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, Marylanders who are not eligible for qualifying health coverage, such as affordable employer-sponsored coverage or a government program such as Medicaid, may apply for an Advanced Premium Tax Credit, or APTC, to offset the cost of monthly insurance premiums. Individuals who have an annual income of less than $47,080 or a family of four whose household income is less than $97,000 may qualify for coverage with financial assistance that begins Jan. 1, 2016, for example. In 2015, more than 60,000 Maryland households have received more than $190 million in tax credits -- an average of more than $3,000 per family --to help reduce the cost of health coverage.

 

4. Website improvements, including a streamlined application, a more mobile-friendly website and more information resources. The site also features a star system to rate the quality of plans. The rating system was produced by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange with the Maryland Health Care Commission and applies only to Maryland plans.

 

5. Simpler renewal: Most Marylanders who enrolled in a qualified health plan through Maryland Health Connection for 2015 coverage will be renewed automatically in the same plan or a similar plan if their plan has changed.  If they received a subsidy in 2015, in most cases if their income hasn’t changed much they will receive a similar one in 2016. Even if they were enrolled this year, consumers may want to shop and compare plan prices since some have increased in price and others have decreased. They may save hundreds of dollars by doing so.

 

6. Small business coverage: The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is open to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees. The program offers a two-year tax credit to help offset costs for qualifying businesses and more coverage options to offer employees.

 

7. New dental plans: For 2016, Marylanders can enroll online in a dental-only plan or enroll in dental at the same time they enroll in a health plan. Maryland Health Connection offers family and child-only dental plans — 19 plans in all from six participating dental insurers.

 

8. Enhanced links to brokers: In a pilot program, select brokers will be linked directly through the call center in the Broker Assistance Transfer pilot program known as the “BATPhone.” Brokers are the only consumer assistance workers who can recommend a specific plan to consumers based on individual needs.

 

9. Coverage is better than a penalty: For 2016, the federal tax penalty for lacking coverage is 2.5 percent of gross household income over the federal income tax filing threshold, or $695 per individual – whichever is greater. That is up from the 2015 penalty of 2 percent of gross household income over the tax filing threshold or $325 per individual. It makes sense to get coverage for your money instead of paying a penalty and not having any. The law provides certain exemptions, including for people below a certain income and those who are without coverage for fewer than three months. The penalty is designed to prompt healthier people to get coverage to keep premium levels sustainable as insurers are now forbidden from turning away applicants due to existing health problems. More people covered also reduces the shared cost of uncompensated care.

 

10. Don’t miss the deadline(s): Coverage will begin on Jan. 1 for enrollments completed by Dec. 15, 2015.  Enrollments completed Dec. 16-Jan. 15 will have coverage beginning Feb. 1, 2016. Enrollments completed Jan. 16-Jan. 31, the last day of open enrollment, will have coverage beginning March 1, 2016.

 

For more information go to MarylandHealthConnection.gov

 

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About the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange: The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) is a public corporation and independent unit of the state government established in 2011 in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), responsible for administration of Maryland Health Connection. marylandhbe.com

 

About Maryland Health Connection: Maryland Health Connection (MHC) is the state-based health insurance marketplace for individuals and families to compare and enroll in health insurance, as well as determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs, federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. marylandhealthconnection.gov

 

Media Contacts

 

Andrew Ratner, Director of Marketing

443-827-6558, aratner@maryland.gov

 

Betsy Charlow, Deputy Director of Marketing and Outreach

 410-547-6324 W, 443-257- 3293 C, elizabeth.charlow@maryland.gov