MN Individual Health Insurance Open Enrollment Starts November 1st

You’ve probably heard a lot of chatter recently about healthcare reform.  Now you want to know how it all will affect you and your family.  We’ve got the answers!

MN Individual Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1 through December 15, 2017. This open enrollment period offers you the opportunity to shop and enroll in a plan that best fits the needs of you and your family.  This means that if you don’t like your current policy, you may use this time to enroll in a different plan to replace it - one with different coverages, networks, and rates.  The effective date of your new plan choice would be January 1, 2018. Once the annual open enrollment period is closed, you may only apply for an individual/family policy if you have a qualifying life event (i.e. baby, marriage, loss of employer coverage, etc.).

If you're satisfied that your current plan will meet your needs for next year, and provided that it is still being offered, you don’t need to do anything.  If your needs has changed and your current plan no longer fits your needs, we have MNSure certified agent assisters here to help.  We can help you determine if you are eligible for financial assistance and find the right plan by asking simple questions.    The licensed agents at MN Health Insurance Network can compare all the MN plans that they represent in your area for free, and make suitable recommendations.  Contact us at (952) 224-0123.

You may qualify for financial subsidies

With the Affordable Care Act (sometimes referred to as “Obamacare”) in place, it is much easier to find a health insurance plan based on your income and personal health needs.  You may even qualify for financial subsidies.  You can quickly and easily apply for coverage through the new Healthcare Marketplace.

Before you settle on a plan, you should first get a quote, find a price, and discover any out-of-pocket expenses your plan will expect you to pay (such as deductibles, co-insurance, and copay charges).  Also, carefully consider which providers you need, because no plan covers all doctors, clinics, and hospitals in Minnesota.  Once you have all of this information together, it will be easier to find coverage which fits your needs.

Don’t confuse Individual Health Insurance Annual Open Enrollment with Medicare Open Enrollment

As if Insurance wasn’t already confusing enough, now there is one more thing to add to the chaos!  The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) has its own "open enrollment” period around the same time as the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period.  The two enrollments are very different, with different start and end dates.  Just remember that the Obamacare open enrollment is not for Medicare eligible individuals.

Next Steps

Prior to (and during) the Individual Health Insurance Annual Open Enrollment Period, you will want to know and understand any changes that will be occurring to your current health insurance policy for the upcoming year.  If you determine that your plan still meets your needs, you don’t need to do anything.  On the other hand, If you are unhappy with your existing plan, or just want to see what else is out there, give us a call at (952) 224-0123.