3 Things Everyone Must Do During Healthcare Open Enrollment | How to Insurance | 051
Hi, I’m Peter!
Welcome to HOW TO INSURANCE
Helping YOU understand insurance,
building CONFIDENCE for your future!
Have Health Insurance? Need it?
If you have a healthcare plan through your state’s healthcare exchange (WA Health Plan Finder or Covered CA or healthcare.gov)… this is for you!
If you currently have an employer health plan but are interested in what happens if you lose that coverage… this is also for you!
Today we are talking about:
3 Things Everyone Must Do During Healthcare Open Enrollment
Every type of insurance has different rules.
For example, with Auto & Home insurance, you can start or cancel new insurance policies any day of the year.
With health insurance, however, your plan only starts on the 1st of the month and normally you can only select a new plan one time a year.
Once you choose a plan...you’re stuck with it until the next annual open enrollment (unless you have a special eligibility event, such as a move, marriage, childbirth, loss of group coverage...etc)
No matter your situation, November 1 - December 15 is Open Enrollment for Individual/Family Healthcare Plans!
Let me explain what that means and what you need to do:
1. Evaluate Your Current Healthcare Plan
Take a look at your current healthcare plan.
Does your current insurance carrier and network of doctors meet your needs?
Do you want to adjust the level of your plan (bronze, silver, gold, platinum)? If so, check out this blog for more info on that)
Do you need a different co-pay, deductible or out-of-pocket maximum?
Do you want to pay less for your monthly premium even though you’ll pay more when you use medical services?
Look at your healthcare plans Summary of Benefits.
Check out your insurance companies’ website and mobile app.
Ask your trusted independent insurance broker to summarize pros and cons for you!
2. Update Your Information
All your current information needs to be up to date and accurate!
Did you move this year? (new city, zip code or state?)
Did you get a different job?
Did your monthly/annual income change?
Did your phone or email address change?
Do you need to add or remove a family member from the plan?
Will you have a different tax filing for next year?
Does your income make you eligible for more or less advanced tax credits?
These are some of the things that may need to be updated.
These items can also change your monthly premiums, up or down… so make sure they are corrected.
Talk to your trusted independent insurance broker and let him navigate any official change reports (to make sure it’s done correctly).
3. Renew or Select a NEW Healthcare Plan for the New Year!
Now it’s time to either:
Renew Your Existing Plan
Or Select a New Plan
If you’re going to renew your existing plan - No more action is required!
(just keep paying your monthly premiums)
If you want to select a new plan - work with your insurance broker and determine the best options for you and your family this year.
Make sure the new plan is selected and that you’re officially enrolled by December 15th, so your new plan can start on January 1. (**However, don’t be last minute; commit to getting this all done before Thanksgiving!)
Make your first payment immediately! (since a lack of payment will cancel the plan)
Now you have a roadmap for how to navigate this year’s Open Enrollment season for your individual/family healthcare plan.
Next Steps:
Contact your trusted independent insurance broker.
Update any information that has changed.
Renew or Select your NEW Healthcare Plan for 2021
At Apple Insurance Solutions,
We all want to protect what matters most to us in life,
but finding the right insurance can be confusing.
So I make it simple.
As Your Insurance Broker,
All your insurance is covered in one relationship,
saving you time and
building confidence for your future.
If this was helpful to you, please:
“Like and Share” this post
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Contact me at peter@appleinsurancesolutions.com
Also, keep in mind, that as Your Insurance Broker,
I offer insurance for auto, home, life, health, medicare, umbrella and business… when you work with me, all your insurance needs... are in one relationship.
Thank you for reading HOW TO INSURANCE
Helping YOU understand insurance,
building CONFIDENCE for your future!
PETER D JOHNSEN
Insurance Broker | Apple Insurance Solutions
360.818.4865 OR/WA 818.620.8171 CA
Auto | Home | Life | Health | Medicare | Umbrella
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