Sitka – The special enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends Sunday, August 15. Significant cost cuts have been made and all Alaska residents are encouraged to compare their current health insurance plan with the options available at healthcare.gov or by speaking with a Certified Application Counselor through SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC).
During this one-time special enrollment period, individuals and families can enroll in a new insurance plan or make changes to their current plan. Typically, Alaskans can only change their plan during a limited enrollment period between November 1 and December 15 or if they experience a qualifying life event, such as childbirth or loss of a job.
SEARHC offers free support from Certified Application Counselors to help guide Southeast residents through the enrollment process. Contact the SEARHC Patient Health Benefits team for assistance by emailing outreach@searhc.org or calling 907.966.8684.
The insurance marketplace was reopened by President Joe Biden and his Executive Order on January 28, 2021. In March, the U.S. Congress and President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, an economic stimulus bill that included additional insurance subsidies and plan options for individuals and families.
The next enrollment window will begin on November 1, 2021. For enrollment information and to calculate the savings of different plans, visit the Affordable Care Act website at HealthCare.gov.