Unsuspecting Americans may be enrolled in new ACA plans: 5 things to know

As the 2018 ACA open enrollment deadline approaches, some people have received letters indicating they are enrolled in new plans they didn't sign up for and showing the amount of money they owe for the coverage, according to The New York Times.

Here are five things to know.

1. The letters affect hundreds of thousands of consumers. These consumers' health plans are no longer available in 2018, as a number of large insurance companies have exited the ACA marketplace in various counties. The letters inform recipients they were automatically enrolled in other plans, according to the report. Some of these other plans may not be with the same insurance companies the consumers previously received coverage through.

2. President Donald Trump's administration has said this automatic re-enrollment aims to ensure consumers don't have a time period where they are uninsured, reports NYT.

3. The administration says on HealthCare.gov, "If you don't log in to update your application and enroll in a plan by Dec. 15, 2017, you may be automatically enrolled in a 2018 plan." Federal officials add this is a "good fallback." However, "the only way to make sure you have a 2018 plan that works for you, with the savings you qualify for, is to log in as soon as Nov. 1, 2017, update your application, and view all your plan options for 2018."

4. For those who will be automatically enrolled, the current administration recommends updating applications on HealthCare.gov with expected 2018 income and household information, and comparing offered plans with other 2018 plans to get the best price.

5. Most Americans have until Friday to sign up for 2018 ACA plans. But the report notes consumers will still have coverage Jan. 1 if their existing plan isn't available in 2018 and they don't pick a new plan by the end of open enrollment. Additionally, if someone's existing plan isn't available in 2018, they may be able to participate in a special enrollment period, and ACA signups will last longer in states that run their own insurance exchanges, such as Minnesota, Washington, California and New York, according to NYT.

Read the full NYT report here.  

 

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars