2016 Open Enrollment – What You Need to Know

Open Enrollment has begun!

Open Enrollment is a set time period each year during which anyone can buy a new health insurance plan for any reason. You cannot be denied coverage during Open Enrollment.

Open Enrollment for 2016 health coverage is November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016.

If you apply between …	Your coverage will be effective …
November 1, 2015 – December 15, 2015	January 1, 2016
December 16, 2015 – January 15, 2016	February 1, 2016
January 16, 2016 – January 31, 2016	March 1, 2016

If you are uninsured, Open Enrollment is your chance to get coverage for 2016 and avoid a penalty tax.

If you were covered in 2015 under an individual/family health plan (vs. having coverage through your employer), your carrier should have notified you in October with news about any changes to your plan and/or pricing for 2016.

If you are comfortable with your carrier’s offering for 2016, you won’t need to do anything.

Simply continue to pay your premiums on time* and your coverage will renew (or the new plan that’s been selected for you will start) effective January 1, 2016.

However, if you’re not satisfied with what’s being offered, or if you’re curious about what else may be available, we’ve made it easy to research your options.

Will You Qualify for a Subsidy in 2016?

Whether you need new coverage or are thinking of switching plans, first find out if you qualify for a subsidy in 2016 based on your projected income:

# People in Your Household
	1	2	3	4	5	6
You may qualify for a premium subsidy if your projected 2016 household income is between ….	$11,770 -$47,080	$15,930 – $63,720	$20,090 -$80,360	$24,250 – $97,000	$28,410 – $113,640	$32,570 – $130,280

Shop for 2016 Health Plans

If you do qualify and you live in Virginia, visit www.enrollvirginianow.com to view available “on-exchange” plans. This is Virginia Medical Plans’ exclusive portal into the federal exchange that expedites enrollment — just for our Virginia clients.

If you don’t qualify, it’s best to purchase coverage directly from the carrier of your choice. We offer convenient one-stop access to view and enroll in “off-exchange” plans in Virginia and Maryland, as well as all plans in DC.  Click here.

Things to Keep in Mind

• It’s important to read all correspondence from your insurance carrier carefully.
• If you anticipate a change in income for 2016, it’s a good idea to revisit your health plan.
• If you switch plans, your network of doctors may change.
• Be mindful of the deadlines for buying 2016 coverage, shown above.
• If you switch plans after January 1, your deductibles will reset.
• If you are uninsured for more than 2 months during 2016, you will be assessed a tax penalty.

Virginia Medical Plans – One Stop Shopping for VA, MD, DC Residents

We work with all the major carriers in Virginia — both on- and off-exchange — and can advise you of the best plan for your needs. We also work with off-exchange plans in Maryland, as well as exchange plans in DC (Carefirst and Kaiser Permanente).

Best of all, there is never a fee for our services! Your premium will be the same no matter how or where you buy your coverage.

But when you work with Virginia Medical Plans, you have access to our assistance now and for the life of your policy!

We are standing by to take your call at 703-707-8270 or toll free at 888-396-2341.

*Some carriers require you to notify them if you plan to continue paying premiums via bank draft when selecting a new plan for 2016. Please check with your carrier.

Buying Health Insurance in Washington, DC

If you live in Washington DC, let Virginia Medical Plans help you choose and enroll in an individual or family health insurance plan!

If you’re eligible for a subsidy to help pay for coverage, we can also help you collect your subsidy.

Enrollment in DC plans is done through DC’s health insurance marketplace: https://www.dchealthlink.com.

You can browse available plans without creating an account, but we recommend you create an account so you’re ready to enroll once you’ve selected your coverage.

Get started by following these steps:

1. Click on “APPLY” and create an account.
2. Once your account is created please click on “select the trained expert assisting you” in the upper right hand corner.
3. Enter our reference number so that we may assist you – 5376842.
4. Click search, then next.
5. Fill out the basic demographic information (name / address / contact information) and then browse available plans.
6. Call us to assist with plan selection and final enrollment into the selected plan.

The first day to enroll in 2016 health coverage is November 1, 2015, with open enrollment running through January 31, 2016.

We are happy to assist you and there is never a charge for our services!

Call our office at 703-707-8270.

 

 

 

Preparing for 2016 Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is a set time period each year during which anyone can buy a new health insurance plan for any reason.

If you enroll during Open Enrollment, you cannot be denied coverage.

Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage is November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016.

If you are currently uninsured, this is your chance to get coverage for 2016 and avoid a penalty tax for being uninsured.

If you are currently covered under an individual/family health plan (vs. having coverage through your employer), you can expect to hear from your health insurance carrier sometime in October with news about any changes the company will make to your plan and/or pricing for 2016.

If you are comfortable with your carrier’s offering for 2016, you won’t need to do anything.

Simply continue to pay your premiums on time* and your coverage will renew (or the new plan that’s been selected for you will start) effective January 1, 2016.

However, if you’re not satisfied with what’s being offered, or if you’re curious about what else may be available, we’ve made it easy to research your options.

Will You Qualify for a Subsidy in 2016?

Whether you need new coverage or want to switch plans in 2016, first find out if you will qualify for a subsidy based on your projected 2016 income:

# People in Your Household
	1	2	3	4	5	6
You may qualify for a premium subsidy if your yearly income is between ….	$11,770 -$47,080	$15,930 – $63,720	$20,090 -$80,360	$24,250 – $97,000	$28,410 – $113,640	$32,570 – $130,280

Browse 2016 Health Plans

If you do qualify and you live in Virginia, visit www.enrollvirginianow.com to take a preliminary look at available “on-exchange” plans. This is Virginia Medical Plans’ exclusive portal into the federal exchange that expedites enrollment — just for our Virginia clients.

If you don’t qualify, you’ll want to purchase coverage directly from the carrier of your choice. We offer convenient one-stop access to preview and enroll in “off-exchange” plans in Virginia and Maryland, as well as all plans in DC, at www.vamedicalplans.com. Click on Get Quotes. We’ll send you updated pricing as it becomes available.

Open Enrollment Starts November 1

The first day you can enroll in a 2016 plan is November 1, 2015. But we expect the carriers to update our websites with 2016 plans and pricing in mid-October.

We are available to help you sort through your options so you’re ready to go when Nov 1 comes around.

We work with all the major carriers in Virginia — both on- and off-exchange — and can advise you of the best plan for your needs. We also work with off-exchange plans in Maryland, as well as exchange plans in DC (Carefirst and Kaiser Permanente).

Best of all, there is never a fee for our services! Your premium will be the same no matter how or where you buy your coverage.

But when you work with Virginia Medical Plans, you have access to our assistance now and for the life of your policy!

We are standing by to take your call at 703-707-8270.

*Some carriers require you to notify them if you plan to continue paying premiums via bank draft when selecting a new plan for 2016. Please check with your carrier.