This year’s second open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act opens Saturday, November 15.
Navigation Program Coordinator Jessie Menkens with Alaska Primary Care Association detailed the new website designed just for Alaska at a conference earlier.
Menkens: “We’ve developed a new website, especially for Alaskans, that website address is www.getcoveredalaska-alaska is allspelled out-.org.”
Another new detail to the website is the ability to “shop” for which healthcare option best suites Alaskans.
Peninsula Community Health Services has open houses scheduled every two weeks through the end of December where residents can receive assistance in enrolling and on Monday, November 17, the Seward Certified Applications Councilor will host an open enrollment event
12,000 Alaskans during last enrollment however approximately 100,000 Alaskans still need insurance.
Regional Director Susan Johnson with the US Department of Health & Human Services detailed the fees for Alaskans not enrolling if they currently do not have health care.
Johnson: “So for the first year of the tax filing in 2015 for 2014 it’s $95 or 1% of your income, whichever is higher. But next year, after this 2015 enrollment cycle, it goes up to 2% or I believe $325, whichever is higher. So it’s a pretty steep increase after the second enrollment period so again, a good reason to get this on your to-do list early.”
This enrollment period ends February 15, 2015