With less than one week remaining before the final enrollment deadline on Jan. 31, about 8.9 million consumers have already signed-up for health coverage through the HealthCare.govplatform or had their coverage automatically renewed, including 185,459 in Arizona.
“The clock is ticking with just four days left before Jan. 31, the final enrollment deadline for 2016 health coverage,” said U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell. “We are focused on making sure people know that financial help is available, the deadline is fast approaching and that we’re here to help them enroll — so that they don’t risk having to pay a penalty of $695 or more for not having health insurance.”
Today’s enrollment snapshot also includes the number of people who selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled within local media markets. As of Jan. 23:
131,758 consumers in the Phoenix (Prescott) local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
31,478 consumers in the Tucson (Sierra Vista) local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
3,706 consumers in the Yuma-El Centro local media market area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan
Having health insurance when you can afford it is now the law. If someone chooses not to buy health insurance and could afford to do so, they are at risk of paying a fee of $695 or more. Consumers are encouraged to visit HealthCare.gov to review and compare health plan options and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help lower monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Five Facts about Open Enrollment in Arizona:
Time is running out. January 31, 2016 is the final deadline for you to sign up at HealthCare.gov for 2016 coverage.
Thousands in Arizona have already enrolled. Since Open Enrollment began on November 1, 185,459 Arizona consumers have selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled.
Financial help is available. In the first month of Open Enrollment, 74 percent of Arizona consumers who selected health insurance plans were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums.
There’s still time to make changes. If you had coverage in 2015 and learned that your plan was automatically renewed for 2016, you still have time to shop plans and make changes. If you find better plan for your family is available, you can change plans at any time before the end of Open Enrollment on January 31, 2016.
Picking a plan and signing up for coverage is easier than ever. Every year we find new ways to make signing-up for a plan simpler. You can even apply on a cell phone.
Date: January 30, 2016