IDI Offers Tips for ACA Open Enrollment Process

The open enrollment period for 2023 health insurance coverage through marketplaces and other individual plans is here. Nov. 1 was the first day you can enroll in, re-enroll in, or change a 2023 health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Important dates to keep in mind:

Dec. 15: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start Jan. 1.

Jan. 15: Last day to enroll in or change a 2023 health plan. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Feb. 1: 2023 coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans December 16, 2022, through January 15, 2023.

Consumers in Indiana who currently have marketplace coverage, or will need it in 2023, should make time to shop for plans through Healthcare.gov. The Indiana Department of Insurance provides a Marketplace Insurance Providers Map to help you determine what insurance providers are in your county.

If you already have coverage through a marketplace plan, review your information to make sure it is accurate. You can update your application with any income and/or household changes. You may qualify for a different amount of financial assistance or find a different plan that costs less and/or better meets your needs. The NAIC's Health Insurance Shopping Tool can help you understand how different policies support your health care needs. The tool provides a 3-step process to compare different health insurance policies.

If your plan is no longer available in 2023, you should receive a notice from your insurer and the marketplace. Even if your plan is continuing, it pays to shop around and check whether the doctors and/or hospitals your family uses are in the plan's networks.

If you're looking for a new plan, there are three categories of health insurance plans to choose from on the marketplace -- Bronze, Silver and Gold. They are broken up by how costs are shared between you and your insurer. Another category, Catastrophic, is available for consumers under 30 years of age or who face a hardship in accessing the other plans. Learn more about the different plans and network types.