Yes, it did. While the original Special Enrollment Period was scheduled for February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021, it is now extended until August 15, 2021. You now have more time to sign up and choose a Molina plan at reduced costs for you (based on income eligibility). You have no time limit to start your new tax credits (see below).
Increased premium tax credits based on the lower income contribution percentage along with expanding tax credit access to members with household incomes above 400%, will be available through HealthCare.gov starting on April 1. This means that new enrollees and current members who submit an application and select a plan on or after April 1 will receive the increased premium tax credits for 2021 Marketplace coverage.
Extra tax credits for consumers receiving unemployment compensation will be available starting this summer.
Current members, including those who recently enrolled through the 2021 Special Enrollment Period, can update their applications and enrollments starting April 1 in order to get new eligibility results starting May 1, 2021. You will need to reselect your current plan in order for the changes to take effect to reduce your premiums for the remainder of the year.
While the 2021 SEP opportunity is available through August 15, current members can decide during the SEP opportunity if they may want to change to a new plan for the rest of the year. You should consider how much you’ve already paid toward your deductible when deciding whether or not a change in plan makes sense for you. When you change plans, the amount you’ve paid already towards meeting your prior plan’s deductible will be reset to zero, and you would need to start over paying out of pocket expenses to reach the deductible on your new plan.
When you file your taxes in 2022, your tax credits will be reconciled to provide the additional amounts if you were covered from January through April 2021.
Visit your State Marketplace website or call center for more information about when these additional savings will be available through your Marketplace.
Members who enrolled in Marketplace plans prior to April 1 have the choice of waiting until they file their taxes next year in 2022 to receive the additional premium tax credit amount when they file and reconcile their 2021 taxes. However, we recommend all members go online, update their application, during the 2021 Special Enrollment Period through August 15 to qualify for the additional credits.
Members who are already paying low or no premiums may find plans with more generous cost-sharing and lower out of pocket costs, and benefit from changing plans. However, when you change plans, the amount you’ve paid already towards meeting your prior plan’s deductible will be reset to zero, and you would need to start over paying out of pocket expenses to reach the deductible on your new plan. If you are happy with your plan, then just update your application by clicking through to your Molina plan, and your new tax credits will be revealed.
No. If members don’t take action, they’ll still receive the additional benefit as part of their premium tax credit when filing their federal income tax return next year. Beginning on April 1, members must come back to HealthCare.gov to update their application to receive these increased tax credits this year. If they have no changes, they can update their application at any time, including after August 15, to see if they are eligible for more tax credits. However, we are also exploring whether tax credits can be updated on behalf of members during 2021.
Consumers who are enrolled in COBRA can drop COBRA and enroll in Marketplace coverage during the year if they qualify for a SEP. Because the 2021 SEP is available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers, a COBRA enrollee who is otherwise Marketplace-eligible may choose to enroll in a Marketplace plan during the period of time when they can access the SEP. They may also qualify for APTC if they terminate their COBRA coverage.
Yes – a consumer can newly add a standalone dental plan (SADP) to their current Marketplace coverage, or make a change to their current SADP. To do so, they should sign in and select their current application, select the option to report a life change, and then click the option for “change to my household’s income.” If they do not need to update any information, the enrollee can step through the application, confirming pre-populated information, and then re-submit the application in order to newly select or change their current SADP. They should also re-select their current medical plan. Similarly, consumers who change their medical coverage should re-select their SADP if they do not wish to change it. Consumers newly enrolling in Marketplace coverage through this SEP may also newly enroll in an SADP.
This SEP is available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application, and consumers with an offer of coverage through an employer, or through a family member’s employer, may be eligible for Marketplace coverage. However, these consumers won’t qualify for a premium tax credit or other savings if their offer of coverage through an employer is considered affordable and meets the minimum value standard, or if they are enrolled in the employer coverage.
More information is available here for consumers with an offer of coverage through an employer who are interested in changing to Marketplace coverage: https://www.healthcare.gov/have-job-based-coverage/. Finally, consumers who have an offer of coverage through an employer must include information about the offer when they submit a HealthCare.gov application, in order to receive an accurate eligibility determination.
Additionally, an employee or related individual is considered eligible for MEC under an eligible employer-sponsored plan for a month during a plan year if the employee or related individual could have enrolled in the plan for that month during an open or special enrollment period for the plan year. Therefore, a consumer who could have enrolled in an employer’s offer of coverage, but did not, may only qualify for the premium tax credit if the offer of coverage is not considered affordable or does not meet the minimum value standard.
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