The deadlines are approaching for the open enrollment period for people needing to purchase or change their individual health insurance coverage.

For people needing a plan through the Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplace, they must enroll before December 15th in order for their coverage to be effective on January 1, 2018. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the ACA has led to all but one provider removing themselves from the marketplace, leaving Medica as the only insurance company available to Iowans. While this may cause concern for people regarding the insurance rates due to the lack of competition, the Iowa Insurance Commissioner’s Office says that doesn’t appear to be the case. Medica is a nonprofit company, and they offer a wide assortment of coverages and plans, so the Insurance Commissioner is confident people will find the plan that’s right for them at the right price.

Another deadline to watch out for is December 7th, which is the last day for those needing to enroll in Medicare. If you miss the deadline and didn’t experience a qualifying event, you can still apply after December 7th, though you will have to pay a premium penalty. Additionally, anyone who misses the deadline for the ACA Marketplace can still enroll, though they won’t have guaranteed coverage starting on January 1st. Enrolling in the ACA and Medicare can be done online or over the phone. For the ACA, visit https://www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. You can also preview sample premium amounts for individual plans by clicking the link below. For Medicare, visit http://therightcalliowa.gov or call 1-800-351-4664. You can find local help by visiting https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/#/.

https://data.iowa.gov/Health/Sample-2018-Iowa-Individual-Affordable-Care-Act-Co/mud8-ghp5