This is the second of a series of posts we will publish between now and November 15, when the open enrollment for 2015 individual health exchange plan commences. We will keep this site up-to-date as we receive further information from various sources.
Last year, Anthem was the only company offered on New Hampshire’s Health Insurance Marketplace, which means everyone who is currently insured through the Marketplace in NH, is insured with Anthem. We would like to make you aware of a few significant changes to Anthem’s individual provider network called, Pathway. These changes affect all members on the Individual Pathway networks beginning January 1, 2015.
The following hospitals have been added to Anthem’s Pathway Networks Eff. 1/1/15:
- Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
- Cottage Hospital
- Southern NH Medical Center
- Valley Regional Hospital
- Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital
The following hospitals have left Anthem’s Pathway Networks Eff. 1/1/15:
- Elliott Hospital
- Littleton Regional Hospital
If you choose to remain with Anthem in 2015, you will lose access to Elliot Hospital, Littleton Regional Hospital, and their affiliate doctors. Bear in mind, that there will be transitional care available for those of you who are in the middle of a treatment on January 1st; however, it will be limited.
For those of you who are currently enrolled through the Health Insurance Marketplace (On-Exchange), you will receive two important notices about your health coverage prior to November 15, 2014. One will come directly from Anthem and the other from the Health Insurance Marketplace. [If you enrolled directly with Anthem (Off-Exchange), you will receive only one letter from Anthem.] Please note, at the time of enrollment, you may have requested that the Health Insurance Marketplace correspond with you via email; please be on the lookout for these notices. These notices will help you understand your choices for 2015, so it’s important to review them carefully and keep them in a safe place.
The notice you will get from Anthem will tell you, either:
- You will be automatically enrolled in your 2014 plan or a plan similar to it, or
- You won’t be automatically enrolled and need to enroll in a plan in order to have health coverage in 2015
If you are automatically enrolled in the same or a similar plan, Anthem will tell you:
- The plan you will be enrolled in
- Your 2015 monthly premium amount and estimated savings
- Any changes to your plan for 2015 – (Please make sure the network changes above will not affect you.)
- Your other coverage options, deadlines, and important information about your coverage
If you are automatically enrolled in the same or a similar plan, your Marketplace notice will tell you which one of the following applies to you; either:
- You’ll get the same premium tax credit and other savings you had in 2014 or
- You’ll lose your premium tax credit and other savings unless you update your Marketplace application and the new information shows that you qualify for savings
If you won’t be automatically enrolled in your current plan, your notice will explain:
- Your coverage options
- Enrollment deadlines
- Next steps to take
- Other important information
Even though the Health Insurance Marketplace may not require you to update your financial information we feel it is in YOUR BEST INTEREST to update your financial assistance information by November 15th at www.healthcare.gov. This will ensure that you get the correct subsidy and cost share for 2015, eliminating any potential problems at tax time. If your income has varied greatly from what you estimated for 2014, it is possible you could lose your subsidy entirely. Being proactive means that you will get an accurate subsidy.
Please note, you have the option to pick a different plan for 2015. This is true even if you enroll in a plan automatically. You can choose any plan available to you in 2015, no matter what kind of plan you had in 2014. As we mentioned in the last email, there will be five insurance providers on the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2015; Anthem, Assurant Health, and Harvard Pilgrim, which are insurance companies, and Maine Community Health and Minuteman Health, which are Maine and Massachusetts co-operatives, respectively. Each of these insurance providers utilize different plan designs and different networks which will be important to many of you.
As a reminder, the Open Enrollment Period will run from 11/15/14 to 2/15/15 and the enrollment dates are as follows:
- Enrollment dates 11/15/14 to 12/15/14 the policy would be effective January 1, 2015
- Enrollment Dates 12/16/14 to 1/15/15 the policy would be effective February 1, 2015
- Enrollment date 1/16/15 to 2/15/15 the policy would be effective March 1, 2015.
If you would like to make changes to your present individual health plan or if you currently do not have health coverage then we encourage you to give us a call. We cannot emphasize enough the importance that you work through professional brokers like ourselves. Last year was extremely difficult, and with all of the new carriers this year, it makes no sense to try to do this on your own. We urge you to work through our professional staff and keep us informed of your activity regarding choosing a health plan.
If you have any questions about any of this information please call our office. You are important to us, and we will do our best to assist you in this ever changing environment. Please feel free to share this information with friends, family, co-workers, or anyone you feel would benefit from it.