Under the Affordable Care Act, nearly every American must have health insurance in California in order to avoid the tax fee. Here’s what you need to know.
Open enrollment is the time in which you can sign up for health insurance in California, if you don’t already have a healthcare provider. Open enrollment for plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) start on November 1, 2016 and goes through January 31, 2017. If you want your coverage to start on January 1, 2017, you’ll need to select a plan by December 15, 2016 (unless you live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, in which case you can do so by December 23, 2016, to get coverage by the first day of the new year).
Here is what you need to know about open enrollment.
Your health insurance in California options include:
- Renewing your policy
During open enrollment you have the option to change your current health insurance. If you wish to keep your same policy, you may not have to do anything, but your current plan may be changing. Keep an eye out for a letter about any changes to your policy that may take place in 2017. - Purchasing an individual policy through the market or insurance provider
Purchasing insurance through the ACA is not mandated, you can purchase insurance through another provider if you wish. A good insurance company, like us, can give you the best rates and the quality of care you deserve. - Acquiring employer-based group health insurance
If you are fortunate enough to get your employer to provide health insurance for you, the deadline doesn’t affect you. You need to sign up during your employer’s open enrollment period. Some employers, however, simply renew the coverage you had this year.
Don’t be penalized for missing open enrollment. Contact the insurance professionals at Donald Weiss Insurance Services in Santa Monica for all of your health care needs throughout Southern California.