Sign-ups for the Health Insurance Marketplace will return to Delaware for three months beginning on Feb. 15.
The marketplace is part of the Affordable Care Act and allows those without access to group insurance or Medicaid.
The coverage is available from HealthCare.gov. The only carrier offering the insurance in Delaware is Highmark. Rates have remained stable, although the state has not seen competition among carriers that has taken place elsewhere.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Jan. 28 that created a three-month special enrollment period (SEP) to improve access to health insurance, including those who lost their job or their coverage during the pandemic.
“Access to affordable health care remains a critical need for all Delawareans as we continue to fight the spread of the coronavirus. I am grateful to President Biden for giving state residents this additional opportunity to get the coverage they need,” said Delaware Gov. John Carney. “I encourage everyone to spread the word about the benefits of enrolling in coverage through HealthCare.gov during this three-month sign-up period.”
The marketplace’s annual open enrollment period for 2021 coverage ended Dec. 15, and since then individuals could get coverage only if they experienced a life event that qualified them to apply for a special enrollment period.
The new three-month enrollment period is open to all eligible applicants who want to apply for coverage or change their existing coverage for any reason; applicants won’t be required to provide documentation of a qualifying event (e.g., loss of a job or birth of a child).
Individuals currently covered under a marketplace plan will be able to change to any plan available in Delaware without being restricted to the same level of coverage as their current plan. Current enrollees will need to go through their existing application and make any necessary changes then submit their application in order to receive an updated eligibility result.
Eligible individuals who enroll under the special enrollment period will have 30 days after they submit their application to choose a plan. Proof of insurance is not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, once your group becomes eligible.
Delaware is one of 36 states that use HealthCare.gov for eligible residents to sign up for coverage. More than 25,000 Delawareans signed up for 2021 coverage during the recent open enrollment period.
Applicants will need to provide the following when applying for coverage:
- Full names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates of all those applying for coverage
- Legal documents for all eligible immigrants who are applying for coverage (i.e. Visa, Green Card, etc.)
- Paystubs, W-2 forms, or other information about your family’s income
- Information about any health coverage from a job that’s available to you or your family
For more information, go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com.
About 6.6 percent of Delawareans remain uninsured, according to the 2020 America’s Health Rankings. That’s down significantly from the nearly 10 percent who lacked insurance in 2010 before the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Marketplace went into effect.
