Extended Dec 23rd Deadline to get Jan 1st Coverage
For those of you that had issues signing up for Health Insurance by Dec 23rd at 5:00pm through the WA Healthplanfinder and were NOT able to sign up are in luck.
If the WA Exchange issues prevented you from signing up, it isn’t your fault, so they opened up a process for a Special Enrollment Request process.
This year they did a dramatically better job and the website worked 90% better! However, there are still many of you that had issues.
You are eligible for this Special Enrollment Request if:
1. If you started a WA Health Exchange application by Dec 23rd at 4:59pm.
2. Sign up here https://petition.wahealthplanfinder.org
3. Give us a call at 425-802-2783 to ensure you have an agency that will keep in touch with you throughout the process to still get January 1st coverage. Can
2015 Cheat Sheet Guide to Picking a Plan
Below are my areas of expertise:
- Health Insurance (Every company in Washington State)
- Life Insurance (33 companies)
- Disability Insurance (8 companies)
- Tax Sheltered Accounts (Following IRS guidelines)
Gary Franke, MBA
Independent Broker
Achieve Alpha Insurance, LLC
12507 Bel-Red Rd, Ste 103
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone:(425) 802-2783
gary@achieve-alpha.com
www.achieve-alpha.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 23, 2014, 5:00 p.m. PST
Washington Healthplanfinder Shares Important Guidance for Consumers Who Were Unable to Meet Dec. 23 Deadline for Coverage That Starts on Jan. 1
Those who Experienced Technical Errors May Qualify for a Special Enrollment Opportunity
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange today announced additional guidance for residents who have made an effort to receive health coverage before the Dec. 23 deadline, but who were unable to complete their applications due to a technical error associated with the Washington Healthplanfinder system.
These residents will have a 60-day special enrollment opportunity through Feb. 23, 2015 to receive retroactive coverage that begins on Jan. 1. The retroactive option applies to applications started or submitted by 4:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Individuals will have their insurance benefits retroactively configured to the start of the year.
“We want to make sure that every eligible customer is able to receive Jan. 1 coverage,” said Richard Onizuka, CEO for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “However, it’s important that these individuals follow our special enrollment process to ensure we are able to facilitate their request.”
Starting at 12 p.m. tomorrow, affected customers should fill out an online request form for Jan. 1 coverage at: petition.wahealthplanfinder.org . If customers need assistance or do not have Internet access, they may also contact the Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633. Each request will be reviewed for consideration and customers will receive a notification of their special enrollment period through email or mail.
Eligible customers should be aware that they may be required to pay the full cost of treatment or prescription medications they receive until their retroactive coverage is confirmed with their insurance company. However, they will be entitled to reimbursement for covered services from covered providers in their health plan.
“If you are determined eligible for Jan. 1 coverage and complete your plan selection and payment, any services you receive after Jan. 1 will be reimbursed according to your plan benefits,” said Onizuka. “Please note that this request may take more time than our standard enrollment process but that we will make every effort possible to expedite your enrollment.”
Customers may contact their health plan with any questions about how to use their benefits before they receive their ID card.
Customers that are eligible for the special enrollment opportunity include, but are not limited to: those who were affected by a recent Deloitte cancellation error on Dec. 2, those who may have received an incorrect tax credit calculation through Washington Healthplanfinder, and those who created an application by Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. but experienced a Washington Healthplanfinder system error that prevented them from meeting the deadline.
Residents who are interested in signing up or renewing their Qualified Health Plan may visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org.
Reminders: Enrollment in Washington Healthplanfinder Business and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) is year-round. Apple Health customers will receive a notice 60 days before the month they enrolled in or renewed their coverage last year.
About Washington Healthplanfinder
Washington Healthplanfinder is a new online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage and gain access to tax credits, reduced cost sharing and public programs such as Medicaid. The next open enrollment period for Washington Healthplanfinder began on Nov. 15, 2014 for health insurance coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2015. The open enrollment period will extend through Feb. 15, 2015.
About the Washington Health Benefit Exchange
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is a public-private partnership established in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) to implement a new health insurance marketplace for individuals and small businesses. The Exchange is separate from the state and governed by an independent 11-member board.