DOINews: All DOI Employees: Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Season

December 12, 2014

To: All Department of the Interior Employees

From: Secretary Sally Jewell

Subject: Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Season

November 15 of this year marked the second phase of open enrollment for health insurance plans since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. Although open enrollment runs through February 15, 2015, plans must be purchased by December 15, 2014, in order to qualify for coverage starting January 1, 2015.

With the upcoming deadline quickly approaching, there are some important resources on healthcare.gov that I encourage you to share with your friends, family, and neighbors who may be considering making a change to their current health plan.

The ACA created a new “Patient's Bill of Rights” that offered the American people the stability and flexibility they needed to make informed choices about their health. The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to make buying health coverage easier and more affordable. The Marketplace allows you to:

• Compare health insurance plans
  
• Get answers to questions about your health care
• Find out if you eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Enroll in a health insurance plan that meets your needs

There are four ways you can sign up for quality, affordable health coverage right now:

• Online: healthcare.gov
  
• By phone: 1-800-318-2596
  
• By mail: download an application at healthcare.gov
  
• In person: visit localhelp.healthcare.gov to find out where.

Healthcare.gov