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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Health
Insurance Open Enrollment Begins Tomorrow
Since the beginning of this year, more than 646,000 Ohioans have
obtained a new health insurance plan through the health law—many for
the first time. And starting on Saturday, November 15th, you can enroll
in a new plan or change your coverage on the health exchange.
In just a year, it is clear that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is
working. Because of the health law:
Insurance companies can no longer increase your
premiums without justification, and they can no longer deny coverage if
you have a pre-existing conditions, or place annual or lifetime caps on
your coverage;
You’re entitled to free preventive care in the form
of cancer screenings, vaccines, annual check-ups, well-woman visits,
and some prescription drugs;
More than 97,000 young Ohioans are able to stay on
their parents’ insurance until their 26th birthday – giving them the
chance to focus on their careers, education, or future plans;
All Americans have access to insurance coverage for
lifesaving clinical trials.
This year’s health insurance exchange provides you with even more
quality, affordable health insurance options to shop for and purchase.
Sixteen different insurance carriers will be selling plans on Ohio’s
exchange during this year’s open enrollment period, up from the 12 that
participated last year. In addition, the exchange website has been
updated and improved so that you can easily compare plans side-by-side
and learn about financial assistance that may be available. Last year,
85 percent of Ohioans who purchased health insurance through the
marketplace received an average of $3,000 in tax credits to help them
pay for the cost of insurance.
You can get covered by visiting www.healthcare.gov. Beginning on
Saturday, November 15, 2014 and running through February 15, 2015, you
can sign up for health insurance coverage in one of four different ways:
Online – Visit Healthcare.gov to apply and enroll
through the internet.
Over the Phone – Call the Marketplace Call Center at
1-800-318-2596 with questions or to enroll over the phone.
In-Person – Visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov or call
the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to get a list of people
in your community who are trained and certified to help you enroll in
person.
Paper Application – Call the Marketplace Call Center
at 1-800-318-2596 or download a paper application from Healthcare.gov
to fill out and send in.
Even if you were one of the 154,688 Ohioans who purchased health
insurance through the Healthcare.gov exchange last year, it is
important for you to visit the exchange to update your information and
review your options. If you purchased insurance through the exchange
last year, your coverage will end on December 31, 2014 unless you renew
your current health plan or choose a new health plan through the
exchange. There is also a chance that the costs for your current plan
may have changed. Returning to the marketplace to review your options
could save you hundreds of dollars.
More than nine million Americans—including 154,688 Ohioans—are now
healthier and better protected because they signed up for insurance
through last year’s marketplace. However, many uninsured Ohioans have
failed to sign up for health insurance coverage under the health law.
Health insurance coverage protects individuals and families against
unexpected and costly health care costs. Protect your health and your
financial security by signing up today.
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