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Polls show most uninsured don’t know there is still time to enroll
YOUNGSTOWN
Midnight Monday was the deadline to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace for coverage to begin Jan. 1.
What you may not know is open enrollment continues in January and February for coverage that begins at later dates.
For those who enroll by Jan. 15, coverage begins Feb. 1. Coverage for people who sign up by Feb. 15 begins March 1.
After that, people will not be able to sign up for health insurance through Ohio’s Health Insurance Marketplace until the next open enrollment in fall 2015, said Kathleen Falk, Health and Human Services Region 5 director.
Falk was among the federal, state and local officials at a news conference Monday at the Youngstown Health Department who touted the Health Insurance Marketplace and encouraged people who need insurance to enroll.
“Here’s the message: Anyone who doesn’t have health insurance and wants it, we have it,” said state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th.
People who want information about and help with the enrollment process can call Access Health Mahoning Valley at 330-373-0703 for an appointment; call toll free at 800-318-2596, or visit https://connector.getcoveredamerica.org, or healthcare.gov.
With open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace underway, polls show the majority of uninsured Americans still do not know that open enrollment runs from now until Feb. 15, officials said.
Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally said 600 people in Mahoning County have enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
“We want to make sure all residents get enrolled if they are eligible,” McNally said.
There are 10 million people nationwide who have health insurance that did not have health insurance a year ago, Falk said.
There still are many more in Youngstown and Mahoning County who could enroll. But polls show 89 percent don’t know that open enrollment is going on, she said.
Falk said the enrollment process is simpler and easier than it was a year ago, and there are more choices of insurers in Ohio now, 16 compared with 12 in 2013.
Falk said in 2013, 70 percent of people who enrolled purchased health insurance for $100 a month or less with advanced premium-tax credits. The number increased to 75 percent this year.
The federal government pays the advanced premium-tax credit, which reduces the premium to the consumer based on income, directly to the provider.