ACA Open Enrollment is Underway

Dear Friends,

As many of you might already know the open enrollment period has begun for those seeking to sign up for health insurance. The enrollment period will last until February 15, 2015. Over the past few months, my congressional offices in the 15th district of Texas have been working in conjunction with many organizations to offer assistance and guidance on how to enroll and find the best health care coverage for you and your family.

We welcome all individuals of all income levels to enroll. The new online Marketplace provides different plans and rates. It is our goal to decrease the percentage of uninsured residents of the Hidalgo County, which is about one third of its residents. The Marketplace has each individual plan meet the needs of every lifestyle, budget, and most importantly, most income levels.

On December 31, 2014, all 2014 Marketplace coverage ends, no matter when you enrolled. It is recommended for you to enroll for coverage before December 15, 2014 if you wish to start your coverage by January 1, 2015.

Please know that those who do not enroll by the February 15, 2015 deadline will not be able to sign up for a health plan inside or outside the Marketplace for the rest of 2015 and will be penalized monetarily on their 2016 income tax. The only exception for the missed deadline is if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Uninsured customers can fill out a Marketplace application that will tell you if you qualify for a private health insurance, which has plans that cover essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions, and preventive care. Also, if you are eligible for job-based insurance, you can consider switching to a Marketplace plan.

If you are already an insured customer with Marketplace, be sure to review your plan’s 2015 coverage. Every year, insurance companies can make changes, so make sure if it still meets your needs and you’re getting the best plan for you. After November 15, 2014, log in into your Marketplace account and review and update your latest information so that you’ll get the right coverage and savings you qualify for in 2015.

After the first full year of the marketplace, it has become clear that it is working. According to the White House Administration, over 7.3 million people signed up for Marketplace plans in 2014, reducing the number of uninsured adults by 26%. The increased competition has kept premiums down and with the success of the first year, insurance companies are even more eager to get into the system and compete for Americans business. This means there will be a 25% increase in the number of issuers offering Marketplace coverage in 2015.

Again, I want to remind everyone that Open Enrollment will be on going until February 15, 2015. If you would like more information, please visit www.healthcare.gov and you can find out more about renewing your coverage, how to enroll, and eligibility for enrollment.
Sincerely,

Ruben Hinojosa
Member of Congress