Insurance deadline approaches

BOISE — Time is running out for Idahoans who want to purchase health insurance in 2015. In order to buy coverage through Your Health Idaho, the state’s health insurance exchange, customers must complete and submit their application by Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m., MST.

“If you’ve been putting off purchasing health insurance, now is the time to act,” said Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho. “If you haven’t starting shopping for health insurance for you and your family because you think it will be too expensive, don’t rule it out until you’ve visited with an agent or broker to discuss your options. Last year, many of our customers saved 70 percent or more on their health insurance plans with a tax credit.”

Agents and brokers across the state are available to help Idahoans sign up for health insurance through Your Health Idaho free of charge. Idahoans can find someone in their community by visiting www.YourHealthIdaho.org and clicking on “find help near you.”

To have health insurance coverage in 2015, customers must submit an application to determine their eligibility and tax credit, pick a health insurance plan and pay their carrier for their health insurance coverage.

“We understand purchasing health insurance is confusing and we are doing our best to help Idahoans through this process,” said Kelly. “So far, we’ve seen tens of thousands of Idahoans select a health insurance plan for 2015 or be reenrolled in their existing plan. We want to remind all our customers to make sure they get their payments off to their carrier as soon as possible. While picking a health insurance plan is a critical step in the process, your health insurance plan will not be effective until you’ve made your first payment.”

Consumers with questions about their bill or how to make a payment are encouraged to reach out to their carrier.

Your Health Idaho will give customers who have completed their application by February 15 a few extra days to finalize their plan selection because it can take several days to check customers’ eligibility and determine their tax credits before they can shop for plan.

Anyone who has not completed and submitted their application by 11:59 p.m. MST on February 15 will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to shop for health insurance on Idaho’s exchange unless they qualify for a special enrollment period. The events that qualify you for a special enrollment period can include getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, moving to another state, changes in employment or the death of a child or spouse.

For more information on special enrollment periods, please visit www.YourHealthIdaho.org/howtoenroll/special-enrollment.

Your Health Idaho was established by state law in 2013 to provide an online marketplace where Idaho families and small businesses can go to compare and purchase health insurance. Your Health Idaho is governed by a 19-member Board authorized by the Idaho Legislature to set the rules and regulations for implementing a State-based health insurance exchange.

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