Updated Nov. 28, 2022 – The health insurance marketplace (healthcare.gov) open enrollment period will run Nov. 1, 2022 through Jan. 15, 2023. If you are uninsured, or underinsured, you can sign up for a 2023 health insurance plan.
Open enrollment can be an intimidating process – especially if you’re doing it on your own. We want to help you feel more prepared and confident during open enrollment this year, so we’ve created a “toolkit” to define some of the common insurance terms, provide key steps to expect during the enrollment process and share helpful resources.
Before you begin your research, let’s define some of the common insurance-related terms you may come across during enrollment.
Helpful Terms to Know
Now that you know some of the most common terms, let’s talk about what to expect during open enrollment.
Key Steps to Prepare for Open Enrollment
Get prepared. You will need the following information to enroll: Social Security numbers (or document numbers for any documented immigrants who need insurance), address, birth dates for all family members enrolling, income information, employer information, any existing health insurance policy numbers and information from your employer about any health insurance they make available to you. And, be ready to share any tobacco use for anyone being enrolled.
Check for financial assistance. Before you begin the enrollment process, check to see if you qualify for a federal subsidy. This subsidy could make purchasing quality individual health insurance a reality for many by helping to lower their premium cost. You can use our marketplace calculator to see if you qualify for financial assistance.
On or off exchange. Individual health insurance is available to you for purchasing both on and off the exchange. If you do qualify for a federal subsidy, you now have financial assistance to lower your monthly premiums when purchasing a plan offered through the exchange. If you’re not anticipating a federal subsidy, other individual health insurance plans, not on the exchange, should also be considered. Your best option might not be on the exchange, so it is worth exploring all your options. For example, we currently offer health insurance plans that could save you 20% or more than what is currently offered on the exchange – a significant cost savings.
Pick your plan and more. We recently gave helpful tips on what to consider when selecting a plan, including coverage needs, budget considerations and more. Don’t forget to consider other insurance offerings available, such as dental coverage. You can find this coverage on the exchange, but it also sold directly through health insurance companies (off of the exchange). Just a note that if you do enroll in dental coverage while on the exchange it is then tied to your health insurance meaning if you cancel your health insurance at any time then your dental coverage automatically ends as well. This can be avoided by purchasing dental coverage directly from a health insurance company. Once the open enrollment period begins, you can start your enrollment process here or you can contact customer service for help in navigating the process.
Finding and selecting a high-quality individual health insurance plan for yourself and your family takes some consideration, but utilizing this toolkit along with reviewing plan descriptions and checking on financial assistance can help you feel confident in your plan choice. Learn more about our individual and family health insurance plans on our website or call us directly for help figuring it all out at 1(800)438-1565.
