Open enrollment for ACA health insurance plans begins Sunday

Open enrollment for 2021 Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in Montana begins Sunday and will run through Dec. 15.

Individuals may sign up for ACA health insurance outside of the open enrollment period if the delay meets the requirements for a “qualifying event,” according to a press release from the Montana State Auditor’s office of Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. An example of such an event would be job loss.

The press release also states that residents can expect premiums in the state’s individual market to remain “mostly flat” heading into 2021.

The office credits this, in-part, to efforts by State Auditor Matt Rosendale to convince two health insurance companies, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana and the Montana Health CO-OP, to drop previously proposed rate increases.

The companies initially proposed overall average premium increases of 2.3% and 3.3%, respectively. Those were lowered to 0.0% and 0.68% for 2021 ACA insurance plans, otherwise known as Obamacare.

Montanas can find a wide variety of resources, including comparisons of the rates and benefits of each insurance plan, at www.montanahealthanswers.com. The website is maintained by the insurance commissioner’s office to provide consumers with detailed information about health insurance.

According to the website, Flathead County falls under Rating Area 3, along with Lake and Missoula counties. Residents can compare ACA rates, deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket expenses and more.

Upon choosing a plan, Montanans will need to go to the federal government’s exchange at healthcare.gov or work with an insurance professional to complete the enrollment process for 2021 coverage.