Robert Beauchamp //October 21, 2013//
People throughout Colorado are preparing for open enrollment, the time between September and December when most Americans select or switch their health insurance plan for the following year. In Colorado, employees are reviewing and selecting their health benefits package for 2014.
In many cases, consumers who spend time reviewing their health plan options can find ways to save money on their health care costs – whether it’s through selecting a plan that will cover more of their expected health costs for a major event in the coming year (such as having a baby or surgery), reviewing which doctors participate in the health plan’s care provider network, or evaluating prescription drug coverage.
Unfortunately, just 14 percent of Americans understand basic health insurance concepts such as deductible, copay, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Health Economics.
In addition, beginning this fall, some people in will go through a new process by selecting coverage through the state’s newly created health insurance exchange, known as Connect for Health Colorado. The exchange is a component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and is designed to give people, especially lower-income individuals and families who may qualify for federal subsidy assistance, another resource to purchase health insurance.
Regardless of how you access health insurance, it’s important to pay attention to the following open-enrollment dates and be aware of tips that may save you money.
There are three distinct open-enrollment periods this year:
About 157 million Americans receive employer-provided health benefits, so their open-enrollment process will likely stay the same this fall. Large employers and some small employers typically schedule a two- to three-week period during the fall when their employees can select health benefits for the following year.
For most Medicare beneficiaries, the Open Enrollment Period is their only opportunity all year to make changes to their Medicare coverage. Beneficiaries can choose to switch to a new Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan during the Open Enrollment Period.
A public health insurance exchange may be a good option for people who are eligible to receive a government subsidy that lowers monthly premiums. In general, subsidies are available to individuals who meet household income requirements and who are not eligible for certain government insurance programs (such as Medicaid) or do not have access to affordable coverage through their employer.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of open enrollment:
For help navigating open enrollment, UnitedHealthcare offers online educational resources such as UHC.tv and HealthCareLane.com that include a variety of entertaining videos to help people learn about health insurance topics and how to live healthier and happier.