The final date to enroll in health insurance or modify existing coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” is Tuesday, Jan. 16 in the majority of states.
Due to the fact that Jan. 15 falls on a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the open enrollment deadline has been prolonged by one day.
Some states, such as Colorado and Nevada, do not have the one-day extension for the federal holiday, resulting in their deadline being on Monday. However, other states like California and New York have a later enrollment deadline.
After the Jan. 16 deadline has passed, there are certain situations, such as a significant life event or a change in income, which may allow you to be eligible for a special enrollment period.
Enrollment for new coverage began on November 1st and, once chosen, the coverage will start on February 1st. If a plan was selected by December 15th, coverage should have commenced on January 1st as stated by HealthCare.gov.
Individuals residing in the United States, who are not currently in prison and have not enrolled in Medicare, have the opportunity to create a profile on HealthCare.gov and choose a health insurance policy from the digital marketplace.
The website HealthCare.gov states that all of its health insurance plans provide coverage for pre-existing conditions and essential benefits, such as prescription drugs, emergency services, hospitalization, laboratory services, and services for mental health and substance use disorders.
According to the Scripps News, approximately 20 million individuals have enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, setting a new record. This year’s enrollment numbers show a 25% increase compared to last year.
According to recent data, a significant number of individuals have joined the marketplace as a result of being removed from Medicaid, a government program that provides low-cost health insurance to those with low incomes or disabilities.
The government-sponsored health insurance, Medicaid, has recently removed approximately 14.5 million individuals after lifting a 3-year ban that prevented states from removing ineligible individuals.
