People who bought health insurance in 2014 on the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov can make changes to their plans until Feb. 15.
Anyone who purchased insurance last year has been automatically re-enrolled in their plan for 2015.
“While it’s easy for busy families to let things happen automatically,” says Amanda Kostman, Lincoln County UW-Extension Family Living Educator, “we strongly recommend that people log in to their account, even after they’ve been re-enrolled, to update their information because it can mean they are eligible for new financial assistance.”
For example, some Marketplace plan premiums have increased. Changes in discounts from 2014 to 2015 could make the difference in determining whether a particular plan is the most economical choice.
If a premium has changed significantly and the purchaser wants to either change their plan or update their 2015 tax credit discounts, they must do so by Feb. 15, 2015, through their Healthcare.gov account online or by phone.
People who need help renewing their insurance or applying for the first time can start the process by visiting the Health Insurance Marketplace website at Healthcare.gov or calling the Health Insurance Marketplace national call center at 1-800-318-2596 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week). You can also find in-person assistance by dialing 2-1-1 for a reference to a nearby community or healthcare organization for help with an application.