Nebraskans will have the opportunity to purchase health insurance from the government’s Marketplace (healthcare.gov) starting Saturday, November 15 when Open Enrollment begins. It is the first year of re-enrollment in Marketplace plans, and the time to sign up is shorter this year.
Open Enrollment runs from November 15 to February 15, 2015. If you want to be covered on January 1, you have to be signed up by December 15.
New this year, the tax penalty for not having health insurance is much higher. If you don’t get coverage in 2015, you’ll pay a penalty of either 2% of your income, or $325 per adult ($162.50 per child) — whichever is higher.
“You can keep your current marketplace coverage and not do anything,” said Matt Leonard, manager, Consumer Sales. “But we are encouraging our members who purchased on the marketplace to go back there to verify their information and double-check to make sure they’re getting the right amount of tax credit for 2015.”
BCBSNE members who elected to keep their health insurance plans from 2013 will be able to keep their plans again for 2015. They will be automatically re-enrolled unless they want to make a change or explore the Marketplace.
Consumers need to know:
- Individual health insurance enrollment November 15 to February 15, 2015
- Sign up by December 15 to be covered by January 1
- The penalty for not having insurance is much higher in 2015
- If you have received a tax credit, check to see if it is the right amount in 2015