Making an Enrollment List and Checking It Twice

By Melissa Stafford Jones, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services, Region 9

Enrolling in health insurance can get complicated. That’s why it’s important to gather the information you need ahead of time to eliminate headaches.

Save time, energy, and headaches by collecting the following information in a folder before you apply for health insurance through Nevada Health Link:

  • Information about your household size. Figure out who in your household should apply before you start your application.
  • Home and/or mailing addresses for everyone applying for coverage.
  • Information about everyone applying for coverage, like addresses, birth dates, and Social Security Numbers.
  • Information about the professional helping you apply (if you’re getting the free help that is available locally to complete your application), such as name, job title and contact information.
  • Documentation of citizenship status for legal immigrants.
  • Information on how and how often you file your taxes. You might want to bring your last tax filing.
  • Employer and income information for every member of your household (for example, from pay stubs or W-2 forms).
  • Your best estimate of what your household income will be in 2017.
  • Policy numbers and notices for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household in 2016.
  • A completed Employer Coverage Tool for every job-based plan you or someone in your household is eligible for. (You’ll need to fill out this form even for coverage you’re eligible for but don’t enroll in.)

Nevada Health Link has tools which allow you to see which doctors, facilities, and prescriptions are covered by each plan.

The following information will be helpful to choosing a plan that works best for you and your family:

  • Names of medical facilities your family uses.
  • Names of all family doctors and providers, including specialists.
  • Names of all medications anyone in your family is taking.
  • Frequency of provider visits for each family member.
  • Whether or not each family member smokes.
  • Premium and deductible amounts you are able to pay.

Nevada Health Link has tools which allow you to see which doctors, facilities, and prescriptions are covered by each plan.

Here are a few other things to consider.

  • You can get assistance with your application by searching on Nevada Health Link’s search tool, attending a local enrollment event across the state, by calling the Nevada Health Link hotline at 1-855-7NVLINK (1-855-768-5465).
  • You must enroll by this Thursday, December 15, 2016, for coverage to be effective Jan. 1, 2017.
  • The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land and open enrollment only lasts until Jan. 31, 2017.
  • You must pay your premium monthly in order to maintain coverage—90% of Nevadans get help paying their premiums, which for many can be less than $75 per month.
  • When you select a plan, you’re making a contract with a private insurer, so your coverage is set for 2017 as long as you pay your premium.

Enroll today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance for you and your family.

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