Nov. 10, 2014 -- As we head into the second open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act, consumers will see a revamped Healthcare.gov that government officials say will be easier to use. But with provisions of the law set to take effect for the first time this year, new challenges also lie ahead.
Consumers have between Nov. 15, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2015, to select or change health plans -- half the time they had under the health law’s first open enrollment period. Those interested in a Jan. 1 start date for a new policy must make their selection by no later than Dec. 15.
Healthcare.gov is expected to work more smoothly than last year, when the Marketplace was plagued by technology problems. Most new customers will see a streamlined application featuring 16 rather than 76 pages this year, which is expected to simplify enrollment.
At the same time, the government has yet to finish the “back end” of Healthcare.gov, which is used to enroll consumers in health plans and send subsidy payments to insurers. Problems with the transfer of information between the Marketplace and insurance companies could mean delays and confusion for people whose health plans don’t properly receive data about their enrollment choices.
“They are finding the same kind of issues they found last year, but they have a better awareness of why those issues are there,” says Sumit Nijhawan, CEO of software company Infogix. “It’s probably going to take a couple of years before that’s ironed out.”
One new concern is for people who decide to switch to a different health plan for 2015. Although officials say they’re working on a fix, problems with the web site may prevent insurers from getting information about those who decide to switch to a new plan for next year -- and that could result in consumers being double-billed if they don’t take it upon themselves to cancel their old policy.
At the same time millions of Americans are expected to shop for insurance for the first time, those who purchased coverage last year are being encouraged to return this open-enrollment season. That's so they can update personal information and shop their health plan options for a better deal.
“Last year it was about awareness, and this year it’s about making sure you’re getting the right plan for your family,” says Carrie McLean, customer service director for eHealth.
The Congressional Budget Office expects that roughly 13 million people will be enrolled through the Marketplaces during 2015, adding about 6 million more to the current count.
Approximately 85% of those who enrolled in health insurance through the Marketplaces last year qualified for subsidies to help lower their health insurance costs. According to the Obama administration, on average, Americans getting subsidies saw their insurance costs slashed by an average of 76%.
Consumers nationwide will see new health plan options this year. The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a 25% increase in the number of insurers offering Marketplace coverage in 2015, which is expected to increase competition in many, though not all, parts of the country.
source : Insurance Open Enrollment Round 2: What to Expect
