Obamacare signups jump after holiday

Florida Blue staff calls surge ‘Marketplace Monday’

It’s open enrollment season for Obamacare, and Florida Blue staffers have coined a term for the Monday after Thanksgiving: Marketplace Monday.

“We’ve always noticed that right after the Thanksgiving holiday, a lot of people want to come in,” said Melissa Kincaid, manager of the three Florida Blue Centers in Central Florida. “It’s been like that every year, and this year, with a shorter period, it’s even more serious. We’re fully booked on Monday as of a week ago.”

Kincaid wasn’t sure what’s been driving this surge, but one thing is for sure: Consumers who want to have health coverage in January need to sign up for a plan by Dec. 15, which is when the open enrollment period ends this year. The Trump administration shortened the time frame by six weeks this year.

It’s also important for consumers who are re-enrolling to look at

their options this year. Their premiums could have changed significantly, since the Trump administration ended costsharing reduction payments to insurers this year.

In anticipation of the cut, insurance companies raised rates. As a result, higher-income consumers, particularly those in a silver plan, may suddenly see premiums rise by more than 20 percent.

Meanwhile, consumers with income between $12,000 and $47,000 a year are likely to see their premiums go down because under the Affordable Care Act, they qualify for tax credits — or subsidies — that are tied to the price of premiums.

Anne Packham, director of the marketplace navigator project at Primary Care Access Network in Orange County, added that the renewal notices from insurance companies may not include consumers’ full tax credit for 2018, and that’s another reason to review your options.

An analysis by Avalere Health shows that 98 percent of U.S. counties with federal exchanges have free bronze plan options during the enrollment period for a hypothetical 50-year-old consumer who earns $18,000 a year. That consumer will have access to more than 10 such plans in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties.

According to the latest data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly 1.5 million Americans selected a plan between Nov. 1-11 this year, compared with 1 million people who did so last year during the same period.

But it’s too soon to say if more people will sign up for an Obamacare plan this year because the enrollment period is shorter than 2016 and there’s no presidential election to distract consumers.

State and local numbers won’t be available until early next year.

“The main thing we’re trying to push is this year’s earlier deadline,” said Christie Hyde DeNave, a spokeswoman for Florida Blue, which is the largest health insurer in Florida, offering at least one plan in every county. “There are people who waited until after the new year to sign up in previous years, but that’s just not an option this year. Get covered and get it done before Dec. 15.”

Also, the penalties are still in effect. Individuals who can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it may face a tax penalty. In 2016, the penalty was $695 or 2.5 percent of annual income for an individual. Going forward, the amount will rise with inflation.

To make appointments with a local navigator, call 877-564-5031, or visit coveringcfl.net. You can also contact your insurer or insurance agent.