Wisconsin residents who don’t get their health insurance through the employers, whether they have current policies or whether they are currently uninsured, need to sign up for new policies between November 1 and December 15.
Health insurance plans are available statewide, and most people can get discounts to make those plans more affordable. The enrollment period for 2019 health insurance coverage runs 45 days, from November 1 – December 15, 2018 for selecting health plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – also known as Obamacare, the Marketplace, the Exchange, or Healthcare.gov.
The ACA premiums are becoming more affordable, as individual plan premiums will decrease this year by an average 4.2 percent over what consumers experienced last year. Some plans have lowered their premiums by nearly 20%. And more insurance companies have entered the market this year, so consumers will have more choices for their coverage. Available premium discounts could reduce the plan premiums by 80% or more, depending on household income.
For 2019 coverage, consumers need to enroll in or renew their health coverage by December 15, 2018. Consumers who sign-up by that date will have benefits available to them throughout 2019, regardless of any future changes in federal or state law.
Free in-person help is available for consumers who want help learning about their health insurance options or enrolling in coverage. Local help can be found any time of day by dialing 2-1-1. The 2-1-1 representatives can connect callers to an enrollment assister for an appointment. Consumers throughout Wisconsin may also find assisters in their area by entering their zip code at coveringwi.org/enroll.
This online tool includes contact information and some appointment spots for enrollment assistance provided by certified application counselors, insurance agents and brokers, financial/billing counselors at their local hospitals, as well as special health insurance Navigators. Navigators are federally-certified, and state-licensed and provide free enrollment help for consumers. In Wisconsin, Covering Wisconsin and NW CEP are health insurance Navigator agencies.
Insurance providers usually change plan benefits, provider networks, and prices each year. Consumers should compare plans available for 2019 to find the one that meets their needs in terms of price, benefits, and provider network. Consumers may also have different levels of discounts available to them if their income or family size has changed.
Over 80% of Wisconsin consumers who select health plans through the Marketplace qualify for discounts that substantially reduce the price of their premiums. These discounts increase when premiums increase, so most consumers will not directly experience the effects of reported premium increases.
In addition to premium discounts, about half of Wisconsin consumers qualify for lower deductibles and co-payments through what are known as “cost-sharing reductions” (CSRs).
Wisconsin has over 300,000 residents who remain uninsured, including over 50,000 children. Many of these children, and some of the adults, qualify for Medicaid or BadgerCare but have not yet been enrolled. Enrollment in Medicaid/BadgerCare is available year-round. During the ACA Open Enrollment period, Navigators and other enrollment assisters will assess the eligibility of each person in a household for both ACA discounts and Medicaid/BadgerCare and assist each individual to enroll as appropriate in either program.
