Deadline approaching for health sign-up

Pennsylvanians have until Tuesday to sign up for the state’s new health insurance marketplace for coverage that begins Jan. 1.

While that deadline must be met to have coverage under the Affordable Care Act at the start of the year, Pennsylvania has stretched the enrollment period to Jan. 15, enabling people who sign up after Dec. 15 to get coverage that begins Feb. 1.

Pennieis the state’s newhealth insurance marketplace, replacing the federally run healthcare. gov site, which Pennsylvanians had been using to enroll in the ACA, or Obamacare, for the past 10 years. It is intended to reduce costs.

Pennie allows customers to compare and shop for medical and dental insurance from insurers that are required to offer comprehensive plans, according to a news release on Pennie’s website. The program is the only source for financial assistance to lower coverage costs. According to the release, 9 out of 10 customers qualify for subsidies.

“We have free, easy-to-use online tools to help customers compare their costs and coverage options and offer unbiased customer service and enrollment assistance through our call center and our partnerships with community assisters and insurance brokers,” Pennie Executive Director Zachary Sherman said in the release.

Pennsylvanians interested in shopping for coverage can go to pennie.com or call 844-844-8040 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; or 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Assisters can walk customers through the enrollment process, the release notes. People also may use one of the more than 2,500 Pennie-certified brokers trained to work with customers to narrow their options.

Jessica Altman, Pennsylvania Insurance Department commissioner, said in the release that all the insurers that offered coverage through HealthCare.gov are offering products in Pennie.