What
The Marketplace (www.HealthCare.gov) is your source for federally regulated and subsidized health insurance. If you have questions about or issues with using the Marketplace and obtaining coverage, please call the federal government at (800) 318-2596. (Once you have coverage, please contact the Insurance Department with questions or concerns, at 1-800-852-3416 or (603) 271-2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.)
NH Navigator - free, non-profit program available to all in-state residents. They offer free enrollment assistance. If you have questions or need assistance contact them today.
Who
You can apply for a 2024 health plan November 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024. During this time, you can enroll in a Marketplace plan through www.HealthCare.gov. The only time you can enroll for insurance outside of the open enrollment period is if you qualify for a special enrollment period of 60 days following qualifying life events.
What are the 2024 insurance rates for New Hampshire?
The average insurance rate for all plans in New Hampshire in 2024 is $484, an increase of 3.10% from 2023.
What are the enrollment rates for New Hampshire health insurance?
Individual health insurance. 54,557 residents enrolled in qualified health plans (QHPs) through the HealthCare.gov marketplace during the 2023 open enrollment period. Of these, roughly 71% receive premium subsidies. Due to the changes
Medicaid and CHIP. As of May 2023, 210,333 residents were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).
Medicare. As of May 2023, there were 331,707 beneficiaries of Medicare in New Hampshire.
How
We are committed to making sure Granite Staters have important information about the open enrollment period and the resources available to them to find and afford critical health care coverage. Coverage could be cheaper than you think -- last year, 8 in 10 people qualified for financial help to make their monthly premiums more affordable and most people found plans available between $50 to $100 per month. Even if you had coverage through HealthCare.gov in the past, plans change so you should still update your information and double-check your network coverage for doctors and prescriptions, or see if you qualify for more cost-savings.
Where
If you want to receive federal financial assistance to pay for a plan, you will need to enroll through the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov). An insurance agent or enrollment assister can help you with this process. If you are enrolled in Marketplace coverage for 2021, you will receive renewal information from your insurance company and the Marketplace. Even if you liked your plan for 2024, it is important to update your application for subsidy eligibility purposes and to look at your options for 2023 because plan benefits and networks change from year to year.
You can buy a plan outside of the federal Marketplace – through an insurance agent or directly from an insurance company – and it will cover the same essential services as a Marketplace plan.
Health Insurance Plans:
The Health Insurance Marketplace offers options for people to get health insurance who can’t get it through a job, Medicare, Medicaid or another qualifying source. The Marketplace has a variety of private health insurance policies you can pick from. What you pay depends on your income. Most people will qualify for a new monthly tax credit (Advanced Premium Tax Credit) that will lower your monthly payments right away. Also, some people will qualify for help paying their co-pays and deductibles. Seven out of ten people will qualify for immediate savings to help pay their monthly premiums.
What Kinds of Plans Are Available?
The Health Insurance Marketplace offers a variety of plans to pick from. You have the option to pick a Bronze Plan, Silver Plan or Gold Plan. Plans in each category pay different amounts of the total costs of your healthcare. For instance, you may pay 40% of the cost if you go with the Bronze plan, 30% with Silver, and 20% with Gold. Co-pay and deductibles may apply.
What to Consider When Choosing a Plan
If you expect a lot of doctor visits or need regular prescriptions, you may want a low deductible Silver or Gold plan. These plans generally have higher monthly premiums but pay more of your costs when you need care.
If you don’t expect to use regular medical services and don’t take regular prescriptions:
You may want a Silver or Bronze plan. These plans cost you less per month, but pay less of your costs when you need care. Make sure you look at all the costs that come with having health insurance. Be familiar with the plan’s monthly premium (how much you pay each month), deductible (the amount you pay before your insurance begins to pay), and co-pays (a dollar amount you pay for a medical service). It is important to consider all of these costs when choosing a health plan. The plan that is the least expensive every month may not necessarily be the best option for you and your family.
Federal Assistance Based on Income Levels Is Available for 2024:
Depending on your income level, you may qualify for financial assistance for paying premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs for a health insurance plan bought through the Marketplace, or for no-cost or low- cost coverage under the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Program. All of these subsidies are available for 2024 plans, so long as you sign up during open enrollment.
When you complete an application on www.HealthCare.gov, you will be prompted to enter your “tax household” size and financial information. After completing the application, you will be notified if you qualify for financial assistance for a Marketplace plan or for coverage through the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Program.
To get assistance under the Affordable Care Act you must earn between 100% – 400% of the poverty level.
The types of assistance offered under the Affordable Care Act are:
Each assistance type has different eligibility requirements based on income as a percentage of the federal poverty level.
What’s a Health Insurance Marketplace? Why do I need health insurance?
The new health care law sets up a Health Insurance Marketplace in each state, which is your one-stop shopping destination for health insurance. It works in the same way you would shop for any other important item in your life: You look at all the available options in your area, compare each plan’s features and prices side-by-side, then choose the one that fits your needs and your budget.
6 Key Facts About the New Health Insurance Options:
Financial help is available
Preventive care is free
Application help is available — and free
You can’t be turned down for coverage for a having a pre-existing condition
The costs and benefits of each plan must be explained in easy-to-understand language — with no fine print
All health insurance plans have to cover important benefits, like doctor visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and more
What Your New Insurance Gets You:
Doctor visits
Prescription coverage
Mental health services
Emergency services and hospitalizations
Maternity care
Infant care and children’s care
Free preventive care, such as:
Vaccinations
Cholesterol screening
Blood pressure screening
Colorectal cancer screening
Mammograms
Pap smears
Information from www.getcovered.org