How to Apply for 2015 Coverage on healthcare.gov

Open Enrollment for 2015 Health Insurance:  November 15, 2014 – February 15, 2015.

If you live in Virginia and will be eligible for a health insurance subsidy in 2015, you must purchase your coverage on the federal health insurance marketplace — healthcare.gov — in order to receive the subsidy.

NEW!   This year we are pleased to offer expedited enrollment for Virginia residents on the exchange.  You get the same coverage you could get by visiting healthcare.gov, but enrollment takes just a fraction of the time.  And, it costs you nothing extra!  Visit www.enrollvirginianow.com or use the green APPLY NOW button on the upper right of this page.

Not sure if you will be eligible? Use this chart to find out. You may qualify for a subsidy if, based on the number of people in your household, your yearly household income is between:

(Note: if you are not subsidy-eligible, you should apply directly with the carrier. Click here for instant quotes from several carriers.)

Getting Assistance from us AT NO CHARGE

If you may be eligible for a subsidy, and prefer to visit healthcare.gov instead of using our expedited enrollment tool, we can still assist you with your application for coverage — at no charge to you!   Simply select us as your broker and we can help you choose the right plan, AND assist with administrative and claims issues for as long as you own your policy — for FREE.

If you do decide to visit healthcare.gov, be sure you have typed “.gov” as we have heard about another site using the same name, but with the “.com” extension.  The “.com” site will NOT take you to the federal marketplace.

Here is our broker information to enter into the appropriate screen on healthcare.gov or on a paper application should you choose to apply that way:

• First name: Jonathan
• Last name: Katz
• FFM User ID: JONKATZAGENT
• NPN Number: 1585616

Here is a shot of the screen on healthcare.gov in which you should enter our data (click on the image to view it larger):

Browsing for Coverage

We are expecting consumers to be able to browse healthcare.gov for available 2015 health insurance plans beginning around November 1, 2014.

Get a Head Start — Set up an Account Online

If you wish to apply online, your first step will be to sign up for an account on the online federal marketplace — healthcare.gov.

Although you cannot apply for new coverage until the first day of Open Enrollment — November 15, 2014 — you can set up your account on healthcare.gov at any time.  It’s a good idea to get a head start by taking this step before the rush!

On the site’s home screen, click on the green “Get Ready Now” button.

On the next screen, click on the link that says “create an account and apply right now” and follow the instructions.   Remember you won’t be able to apply until Nov 15, so be sure once your account is set up to make a note of your user name and password so you can go back in and apply during Open Enrollment.

Here are a few tips to help you be prepared:

Gather Family and Household Information

For each person to be covered, you will need the following information:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Social security number
• Home and/or mailing address
• Document numbers for anybody with eligible immigration status

In addition, assemble the following:

• Income information — recent W-2 statement or pay stubs
• Your best estimate of your household income for 2015
• Current health insurance policy numbers, if applicable
• A completed “Employer Coverage Tool” for each job-based plan you or someone in your household is eligible for.  Click here to access the form from healthcare.gov.
• Names of current doctors and medications, to help you identify the right coverage for your needs

Study Up on Health Insurance Terms

So that you understand your options, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with health insurance plans and terminology.  Here are links to helpful info on our site:

• Click here for an explanation of types of health insurance.
• Click here for a glossary of terms.
• Click here to read about Metal Levels for plans under the Affordable Care Act
• Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Selecting the Best Coverage

Once you are able to browse available plans, we urge you to look closely at your options — paying particular attention to deductibles, co-pays, provider networks, etc.  And — of course — premiums. Then give us a call at 1-800-867-0800, or email us at jkatz@vamedicalplans.com so we can help you decide which is the best for you.

Once we have identified the best plan for you, you will sign back in to healthcare.gov and complete your application.

Contact Virginia Medical Plans for Help

We are available to assist you at any step of the way, so let us know if we can be of service. Please also understand that we are experiencing an extraordinarily high volume of calls and emails.

Thank you for your patience!

Reach us by phone: 1-800-867-0800, or email: jkatz@vamedicalplans.com.

For your convenience, here is our Broker Information once again. Remember there is NO CHARGE TO YOU for using our services:

• First name: Jonathan
• Last name: Katz
• FFM User ID: JONKATZAGENT
• NPN Number: 1585616