CMS has finalized a policy creating an auto-enrollment process for current Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act federal marketplace enrollees.
Although marketplace plan enrollees still have the option to shop for plans through HealthCare.gov when open enrollment begins in November, they can be automatically re-enrolled in their same plan for 2015 if they're happy with their current coverage and their income and/or family situation hasn't changed, according to CMS. Generally, if consumers do nothing, they will be auto-enrolled in the same plan they chose for 2014, with the same premium subsidy and other financial assistance, if applicable.
However, CMS encourages consumers to visit the marketplace to ensure they're getting all of the financial assistance they're eligible for and to make sure their plan is the best fit for their needs.
"Consumers whose 2013 tax return indicates that they had very high income, or who did not give the marketplace permission to check updated tax information for annual eligibility redetermination purposes will get auto-enrolled without financial assistance if they do not return to HealthCare.gov," CMS states.
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