Open Enrollment Explained (Health Insurance)

What does open enrollment mean? Does it have anything to do with Deer season?

Open enrollment is a period of time each year that you can or have to sign up for new health insurance benefits (if you don’t already have them) or change existing benefits. It has a lot to do with how old you are and if you receive Medicare benefits or not.

If you are on Medicare or over the age of 65 , your open enrollment for 2017 is October 15, 2016 to December 7, 2016. If you are enrolled in Medicare and a Medicare advantage plan (Part C) or have a prescription-drug plan (Part D) you can change your benefits or change carriers during this time.

If you have a Medicare supplement, you are not affected by this open-enrollment period. Many, however, that are on a Medicare Supplement carry a separate prescription-drug plan (Part D). A Prescription-Drug Plan (Part D)  can be changed during this open-enrollment period. Medicare Supplements can be changed anytime if meet health underwriting qualifications.

If you are under the age of 65 and not on Medicare, open enrollment for the Federal Marketplace  (Healthcare.gov) runs from November 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017. If you do not have healthcare insurance, you can sign up for coverage between those dates.  If you have been on Kentucky kynect you will need to be transitioned to the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace (FFM or Healthcare.gov) for 2017. You must take action!   You must be transitioned to the Federal Marketplace by December 15, 2016 for coverage to be effective January 1, 2017. There are fines for not having health insurance.

If you have any questions about these “open enrollment” dates or Health Insurance, please contact us!  NEW for 2017 we have self quoting on our website!

OK, now for what you really want. When is the open season for DEER in Henderson KY? See this Fish & Wildlife Resources website.