Deadline to sign up for health insurance coverage on Healthcare.gov is January 15
(MILWAUKEE, January 9) – As Wisconsin enters the last week of the extended Open Enrollment period on Healthcare.gov’s Health Insurance Marketplace, there are positive signs that the state may top last year’s sign-ups. As of early December, 88,761 people had become newly enrolled on the Marketplace, totaling more enrollments than the same time last season. This marks the second consecutive plan year with increased enrollment activity.
There is still one week left for consumers to sign up for Healthcare.gov Marketplace insurance coverage before the January 15 deadline. More low-cost health insurance options are now available, and more Wisconsinites qualify for “discounts” (or subsidies) this year. The Inflation Reduction Act extended the extra financial help on Healthcare.gov added in 2021, which helps to lower monthly premiums for all income levels and means more middle- and higher-income households qualify for financial help with health insurance costs.
“We are thrilled to see another year of affordable plans and hope consumers continue to take advantage of these options, and I’m proud of the collective efforts happening in Milwaukee to reach out, inform, and provide assistance.” said Justin Rivas, Director of Community Health for the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP) and project manager of the Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN). “Adequate, accessible, and affordable health insurance coverage is critical to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and our community.”
Insurance options and prices change from year to year. If prices have been unaffordable in the past, consumers are encouraged to check again, given the increased financial support available.
“Insurance is complicated, and options change year to year. That’s why our health insurance navigators offer free, unbiased assistance to ensure everyone has access to the best plan for their situation,” said Allison Espeseth, Director for Covering Wisconsin, who oversees the Wisconsin health insurance navigator program and co-sponsors MKEN. “We encourage residents who do not have coverage or are seeking more affordable health insurance to take advantage of the free, local help available through Covering Wisconsin and other enrollment assisters during this enrollment period, and really, anytime they need help throughout the year.”
The Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment period runs through Sunday, January 15. There is free, local help available to all people. Visit HealthyMKE.com or call the 2-1-1 Helpline (877-947-2211) to find an expert. Help is available in person, by phone, or by chat. Experts help people understand and sign up for both Marketplace plans and Medicaid.
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About the Milwaukee Enrollment Network
The Milwaukee Enrollment Network is a consortium of more than 100 organizations committed to promoting adequate and affordable health insurance coverage, with a focus on low-income, uninsured and underinsured people in Milwaukee County. MKEN is co-sponsored by Covering WI and the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership.
About the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership
Established in 2007, the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership is a public/private, managed consortium dedicated to improving health care for low-income, underserved populations in Milwaukee County with the aim of improving health outcomes, advancing health equity and lowering the total cost of care. Its members include Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Outreach Community Health Centers, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc., Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Progressive Community Health Centers, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, and the City of Milwaukee Health Department.
About Covering Wisconsin
Covering Wisconsin (CWI) is the state’s federally certified and state-licensed health insurance Navigator agency. Based within the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, CWI’s mission is to connect residents with and promote effective use of insurance coverage and other programs that support health. Through year-round free and unbiased service, CWI provides holistic health insurance help to any Wisconsinite, assisting with coverage selection, enrollment, use, payment, renewal, and more. In addition to strategically locating health insurance Navigators to best serve consumers around the state, CWI also creates easy-to-understand health materials, trains professionals and consumers on health policies and programs, distributes promotion and awareness campaigns, cultivates collaborative partnerships, and conducts outreach in coordination with public, private, and governmental agencies.