2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment

2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment Is Here! Compare Carriers and Find the Right Coverage for You and Your Family Members.

2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment

Obamacare Open Enrollment to protect family members

Get Open Enrollment 2021 and Start You Full Year Coverage

The Affordable Care Act (also known as ACA or Obamacare), allows individuals to buy qualifying health plans through government-operated exchanges (marketplaces) or in the private health marketplaces. You can apply for available tax credits and subsidies through your state or federal exchange; but you can only purchase personal coverage on the government exchanges during open enrollment periods or when you have a qualifying life event.

If you want to apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace or your state’s health insurance exchange, you can apply several ways:

Online here
By phone (855) 899-4814
Get in-person help from a counselor
Contact an agent or broker here
Fill out a paper application

Enrolling online is the easiest way to compare multiple Obamacare plans thus saving you time and money. Enter your zip code in the above to compare open enrollment plans now.

Open Enrollment 2021 Dates and Deadlines

The 2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment period is scheduled from

Sunday, November 1, 2020 to Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

States’ Enrollment Periods That Differ from the National OEP:

California:	November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Colorado:	November 1, 2020 – January 15, 2021
District of Columbia:	November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Massachusetts:	November 1, 2020 – January 23, 2021
Minnesota:	November 1, 2020 – December 22, 2020
New York:	November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
Rhode Island:	November 1, 2020 – January 23, 2021
Pennsylvania:	November 1, 2020 – January 15, 2021
Nevada:	November 1, 2020 – January 15, 2021
Washington:	November 1, 2020 – January 15, 2021
New Jersey:	November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021

What Has Changed to 2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment

There are plenty of things that have changed regarding how ACA operates for the 2021-2022 coverage year:

If you don’t enroll in a plan during open enrollment, you won’t receive a penalty because the fee for not having coverage was reduced to $0 in 2019. However, some states still have state-based mandates. Check Here.
If you don’t qualify for an Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) tax credit, you may save money by purchasing a plan directly, either through a health insurance provider, from an agent, or through EINSURANCE.
Obamacare rates may decline in some states for the first time in many years. Check Obamacare Facts to review state details and see how much rates are expected to change in the coming 2021 open enrollment period.
Obamacare alternatives are expanded, like short term coverage. However, they don’t offer the same benefits, rights and protections as medical plans sold during open enrollment. More details can be found Here.
There are three types of cost assistance based on income, family size, and access to other coverage in open enrollment 2021:

How to Save On 2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment?

Even with the several new revisions to the 2021 affordable care act in the health marketplace, there are additional ways to help ensure you receive good, affordable insurance.

1. Meet 2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment Deadlines

The 2021 open enrollment only lasts 45 days. Most people need to enroll between November 1st, 2020 and December 15th, 2020 to get full year coverage starting January 1st, 2021. If you live in a state that runs its own exchange, please make sure to find out your deadlines and enroll on time.

2. Check to See If You Qualify for Tax Credits

Those who are uninsured aren’t always aware they can get financial assistance when buying on the exchanges to help offset insurance premium costs. Many who buy on the individual market qualify for ACA subsidies, according to a Commonwealth Fund report. Make sure to find out if you qualify for financial assistance before you enroll.

3. Shop Around and Review Multiple Plans Before You Make A Final Decision

To qualify for tax credits you must be on a marketplace policy. Also, keep in mind that cost-sharing assistance is only available with a silver plan. Don’t just keep the policy you have in 2020, because tax credit rates might change. If your marketplace doesn’t offer an insurer for 2021, you can buy on the private market, but you won’t be eligible for a premium reduction.

4. Get Help from Online Resources

Deciding which insurance plan is right for you can seem daunting. It gets complicated, so get the help you need to enroll and compare plans. You can use our free online quote service to help you compare multiple plans in just one click. Also, don’t forget to check our Open Enrollment 2021 – What You Should Know.

What If You Miss The 2021 Obamacare Open Enrollment?

1. Get Short Term Health Insurance

Short term health insurance covers the policy holder for up to 12 months, which is ideal for some who are looking for coverage to fill a gap between regular policies. You can check out more details in our article Miss the Obamacare Deadline? Short Term Health Insurance Might Just Be What You Need.

However, because this kind of policy is not ACA-compliant, they don’t include coverage for pre-existing conditions. Keep this in mind if you do have pre-existing conditions.

2. Apply During Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) requires that you have experienced a life-changing event that kept you from applying during Open Enrollment Period.

You may be allowed to enroll in an ACA plan during the Special Enrollment Period if you:

Got married
Had a baby, adopted a child or became a foster parent
Got divorced or became legally separated and lost health coverage
Lost your job and are no longer covered
Lost or will lose COBRA coverage
Lost or will lose eligibility for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Lost or will lose eligibility for Medicare
Someone on your plan has died
Moved to an area that requires you to enroll in a different plan than the one you had
Have been diagnosed with a major medical condition, were temporarily incapacitated, or experienced a natural disaster that kept you from enrolling during Open Enrollment
Are a victim of domestic abuse or violence, or spousal abandonment
Couldn’t enroll because of a human error by an ACA enrollment representative or a technical error on the website

Keep in mind that to qualify for SEP due to loss of health coverage you must have lost coverage within the past 60 days or expect to lose coverage in the next 60 days because of the qualifying event. For unanticipated qualifying events, you must apply within 60 days of the occurrence.

If you want to know more on ACA Special Enrollment Period, visit our article ACA Special Enrollment Period: Do You Qualify?