Health Insurance Marketplace

Need Health Insurance? The Health Insurance Marketplace is Reopening!

Special enrollment period: February 15 – March 15, 2021

During this time of economic distress and displacement, the Health Insurance Marketplace will reopen for a special enrollment period beginning February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021. This will provide more Americans with immediate access to affordable health care coverage.

We encourage all who are uninsured or underinsured, including those who have lost employer-sponsored health insurance, to turn to www.healthcare.gov for assistance. The marketplace is trusted and appreciated by the 11.4 million Americans who currently use it to select their health insurance policies.

The Heath Care Law

According to the Affordable Care Act, everyone who legally lives in the United States must have health insurance. For millions of uninsured people, this law gives access to healthcare plans at different cost levels. Based on their income and family size, those who qualify also may receive financial assistance when purchasing these plans.

Health insurance provides peace of mind

Having health insurance reduces or eliminates your risk of facing a major expense if you or a family member suffers from an illness or injury.

Health insurance can be affordable. For some, government subsidies offset the cost of insurance. Others may be eligible for Medicaid when previously they were not. Avoiding penalties for not having insurance should be a factor too. Most importantly, health insurance provides peace of mind.

For millions of uninsured or underinsured people, the Health Insurance Marketplace allows you to compare plans to find one that fits your budget and coverage needs. Based on income and family size, you may even qualify to receive financial assistance when purchasing these plans.

What will Health Insurance Marketplace plans cover?

All plans include coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, wellness care, prescriptions, emergency services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, laboratory services, rehabilitative services and devices, and mental health and substance use disorder services. Plans can also offer benefits like vision, dental, or medical management programs for specific diseases or conditions.

Health insurance Marketplace plans fall into four categories – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. Each plan has its own monthly costs and out-of-pocket costs:

  • Bronze covers 60% of the total average costs of care
  • Silver covers 70% of the total cost of care
  • Gold covers 80% of the total cost of care
  • Platinum covers 90% of the total cost of care

Open enrollment is February 15 through May 15.

If you do not have health insurance, you must sign up for 2021 coverage during open enrollment, from February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021. You can shop for plans by phone, through a broker or at the online Marketplace, where you can compare benefits and costs easily. Those who do not sign up will face tax penalties.

If you currently have “charity care,” you should sign up for health coverage. With health insurance, you will be covered for things like doctors’ visits and prescription medicines, which are not covered now—and may not be covered when your charity care coverage ends.

Visit healthcare.gov for additional information.

You can compare plans side by side, in simple language, and there’s no fine print. You can choose between four levels of health plans—Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze—from a variety of approved insurance providers. Each offers different amounts of coverage and different monthly premiums. Only one simple application is required.