OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOV. 1 FOR MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION
ENROLL BY DEC. 15 TO BEGIN COVERAGE JAN. 1, 2017
BALTIMORE (Oct. 28, 2016) – Marylanders can enroll in health and dental coverage for 2017 throughMarylandHealthConnection.gov starting Tuesday.
Dec. 15 is the deadline to sign up for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2017. Jan. 31 is the last day to enroll for 2017.
Maryland Health Connection is the only place for Marylanders to access federal tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies to lower the cost of insurance and cushion the impact of any rate increases. During the past two years, Marylanders have received $325 million in federal tax credits to offset out-of-pocket costs. The average tax credit per household was about $325 a month. And nine of 10 enrollees received financial support to offset some or all of their costs.
In a survey of more than 900 Maryland residents this summer:
- A majority of Marylanders (78%) said they would be interested in visiting MHC if they were subsidy-eligible.
- Less than one-third (29%) of uninsured were aware of subsidy eligibility.
- Almost half of uninsured (44%) don’t know if they are subsidy-eligible.
- A majority of uninsured (91%) would be interested in visiting MHC if they were subsidy-eligible.
The federal tax penalty for lacking health coverage is $700 or more per person. You can avoid that penalty by getting coverage, which provides benefits such as checkups and routine screenings at no additional cost.
Individuals can apply at MarylandHealthConnection.gov. The website has been redesigned based on consumer testing, with fewer, clearer entry points and easier-to-understand information on coverage, costs and benefits.
A new app makes it easier to shop and apply for coverage on a mobile device. The “Enroll MHC” app is available free in the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android). Consumers can use the app to buy health and dental coverage, view notices and upload verification documents with the camera on their mobile device. The app will also indicate preliminary eligibility for federal tax credits and cost-sharing for private plans offered on the state’s health insurance marketplace, as well as eligibility for Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP). Enrollment in those programs is year-round.
Marylanders can find, free in-person help to enroll from more than 1,000 trained experts around the state. A new in-person help locator tool on the website and the app makes it easier than ever to find assistance. Consumer assistance workers have expanded evening and weekend hours to better accommodate consumer schedules.
Consumers can also call toll-free 1-855-642-8572 (TTY: 1-855-642-8573) to reach the consumer support center. It offers assistance in more than 200 languages, as well as TTY services for the deaf and hard of hearing. The call center will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Jan. 31, with extended hours just prior to the Dec. 15 and Jan. 31 deadline days.
More information is available at MarylandHealthConnection.gov. In Prince George’s County call 301-927-4500.
