If you are ready to enroll in a health insurance plan, please have recent financial information available, including tax returns, pay stubs, or other income statements. Also, be aware of how many dependents you have under the age of 26, as adult children may be eligible for coverage.
Finally, if health insurance is offered as a benefit through your employer, you must document that the cost of that insurance is more than 9.5% of your income. If your work insurance is higher than 9.5% of your income, you may be eligible to purchase insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. A Certified Application Counselor can help you enter your information online to see what insurance options are available and check if you qualify for any financial help.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides more options for individuals and families to access affordable health insurance. Key points about the ACA include:
- Everyone can get health insurance, even with pre-existing conditions.
- During the annual open enrollment period, you can access the Health Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov) to sign up for affordable, federally-approved insurance plans.
- The Marketplace application determines if you qualify for additional programs, such as Medicaid or BadgerCare.
If you are currently covered by Medicaid/BadgerCare, you may receive a letter instructing you to enroll for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you receive this letter, it is important to act promptly to avoid losing your coverage.
If you are covered under Medicare (for those disabled or 65 and older), your coverage does not change, and you do not need to use the Marketplace.
Many people qualify for financial help to lower the cost of health insurance through government assistance. A Certified Application Counselor or enrollment assistant can help you find out if you qualify. For assistance, call 2-1-1 or visit www.healthcare.gov.
For questions or assistance with enrollment in state or federal programs, contact the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s CHAP at (414) 286-8620.
Assistance and over-the-phone enrollment are also available in over 150 languages through the Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov or 1-800-318-2596. To find an enrollment site nearby, Milwaukee County residents can also call 2-1-1 for assistance.