Media Contact: Sara Finger (608) 251-0139 x1

Madison, WI – It’s open enrollment season in the individual marketplace, and that means Wisconsinites across the state are considering their options for 2018 coverage. Open enrollment began on November 1st, and ends on December 15th. After December 15th there will not be another opportunity to enroll in health insurance for all of 2018 unless you have had a significant event in your life.

Those who have been through open enrollment understand that window shopping on healthcare.gov is helpful, but having someone to sift through options with you is invaluable.

Navigators and Certified Application Counselors have systems and tools that help you to determine which insurance plan will best meet your health care needs and your budget. The majority of individuals and families who purchase health insurance through healthcare.gov will qualify for financial assistance, and some may even find plans with monthly premiums between $0 and $100. Navigators and Certified Application Counselors can help make sure your application is complete and can explain how you might qualify for financial assistance to keep your costs low. You can go to www.coveringwi.org/enroll to make an appointment with a Navigator, call 2-1-1 for assistance in booking an appointment for free, local help signing up for insurance, or go to http://bit.ly/WIEnroll to see a county-level directory of individuals who can help you enroll in health insurance.

In the first 18 days of open enrollment, nearly 65,000 people in Wisconsin have signed up for health insurance through healthcare.gov. Many who are re-enrolling this year have been surprised to learn that plans are more affordable than what was quoted in their renewal letter from their insurance company. That’s because the estimates in those letters don’t include updated financial assistance figures. On average, consumers who qualify for financial assistance will see higher levels of assistance this year as compared to last.

There has been a lot of noise about health care this year, and most of it is confusing. Here are the facts:
Health insurance is available for 2018
You might qualify for financial assistance to help cover your costs
There are experts available who are certified to help you select a plan and enroll in health insurance
You must enroll by December 15th if you want health insurance in 2018.
There is still a financial penalty if you do not have health insurance
With only a few weeks remaining in this open enrollment period, we encourage you to make your health a priority in 2018. Reach out to someone who can help and sign up for health insurance today!

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