If you or anyone you know is still uninsured, the deadline to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act starting January 1st is fast approaching. You must sign up by December 23rd for coverage starting on January 1, 2014.
During the rest of open enrollment, if you enroll between the 1st and 15th day of the month and pay your premium, your coverage will begin the first day of the next month. So if you enroll on February 10, 2014, your coverage begins March 1, 2014. Open enrollment ends March 31, 2014.
To enroll, go to www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855-355-5777. If you have a friend out of state, go to healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596.
We highly recommend going to office locations where there’s free in-person assistance to help you understand your options. You can call to set up an appointment with an insurance assistant or “navigator” here.
Note: Many places are booked toward the end of the month, so another option is to call 855-355-5777 and ask for enrollment help.
Trained experts can walk you through your options and help you learn if you qualify for financial assistance. It’s important to have last year’s tax returns, current employer information, and the names of any current doctors and hospitals on hand.
Last but not least, Community Health Advocates at 888-614-5400 can guide you through complex insurance questions should you need further help.