The Affordable Care Act is working in terms of access, affordability and quality. There are 10.3 million fewer uninsured people throughout the country compared to last year. If you enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2014, I encourage you to go back to HealthCare.gov and shop for the best plan for you and your family for 2015. You may be able to save money by switching to another plan. 

Open Enrollment for 2015 is going on now! Visit HealthCare.gov to shop and sign-up today for a plan that fits your needs and budget. Whether you already have coverage or are getting coverage for the first time, here are some important dates and information.

TO RENEW YOUR MARKETPLACE COVERAGE:

If you already have a plan, be sure to renew your coverage by December 15, 2014. If you don’t act by December 15, you will be automatically re-enrolled in your same plan, so you stay covered. But, there are more plans on the Marketplace than ever before, so be sure to check out HealthCare.gov to see all the options available to you. There might be plans that better meet your needs and budget this year.  

o   With an average of 25% more plans to choose from this year, you will find many more options – a plan that saves you more money, offers more services, or includes more doctors.

o   This year it’s simple. For most consumers who are renewing coverage, up to 90% of your application will already be pre-filled based on last year’s application.

· It’s easy to renew. There are 5 steps to renew coverage:

1. Review: Plans change – review your coverage and application.

2. Update: Look through your application and update anything that's changed. Even if none of your information has changed, you might be eligible for lower costs.

3. Compare: Compare your current plan with other plans in your area. If you decide to stay in your current plan, follow the directions to search by the plan’s 14-digit ID.

4. Choose: Choose a health plan for 2015. If you want to stay enrolled in your 2014 plan, you’ll need to use the plan ID in the letter you get from your health plan.

5. Enroll: Make sure to review, update, compare and choose by December 15 to have any changes take effect on January 1. Contact your plan to confirm your enrollment. Make sure to pay your first premium on time.

 

TO SIGN UP FOR THE FIRST TIME

If you are looking for health insurance on the Marketplace for the first time, there are two important deadlines to know. February 15, 2015 is the last day you can sign up for coverage in the Marketplace. If you want your coverage to start by January 1, 2015, you must sign up by December 15, 2014.

 

· You can find affordable coverage between now and February 15, 2015. Your plan can start as soon as January 1^st if you sign up by December 15, 2014.

o   It’s simple. It’s easy to shop; no log-in or application is required to see the plans and find out how much financial help may be available. You can even apply on your smart-phone.

o   It’s fast. With a new streamlined application for most consumers, the number of screens has been reduced from 76 to 16 with fewer clicks to navigate through the questions.

o   It’s more intuitive. You can shop and enroll in a plan however it is more convenient for you – on a smartphone, a tablet, a computer or by calling the call center or with in-person assistance.

 

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact my office or utilize the following resources.

Resources

· Visit HealthCare.gov

· Call the 24/7 call center: 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325).There are 14,000 call center representatives ready to answer questions and help you stay covered or get the coverage you need.

· Find in-person assistance in your own community at localhelp.healthcare.gov