Want health insurance starting Jan.1? It's not too late to sign up
David Lingholm
| 2 min read
If you fall into the camp of wanting a health insurance plan to start on Jan. 1, 2014 but didn’t sign up through Healthcare.gov in time, you are not alone. Recognizing this is a reality for many people in Michigan, BCBSM has extended the enrollment deadline for the one pre-ACA health plan the company has left open. The decision to extend the deadline for enrolling in a Keep Fit was part of an effort by The Blues to help address the needs of members and potential members. “Blue Cross wants to give Michigan residents every opportunity to obtain health coverage and have it effective January 1,” said Terry Burke, vice president for individual business at BCBSM in a press statement. In addition to extending the deadline to enroll for Keep Fit, the company has also extended the deadline to enroll in an off-marketplace plan. Those plans mirror the plans available on Healthcare.gov, and are intended for people who do not qualify for subsidies. In an interview with the Associated Press, Burke said calls for individual health insurance policies increased to over 7,800 calls per day.
.@bcbsm says before #ACA, it got 400-600 calls/day regarding individual market plans. Insurer received 7,800/day in past week — David Eggert (@DavidEggert00) December 23, 2013
To address that increase in call volume, BCBSM has increased the number of Health Plan Advisors to 400 and expanded call center hours through the month of December. There are three ways to obtain this Keep Fit coverage:
- Calling a Blues’ Health Plan Advsior at 855-892-8089.
- Contacting a licensed Blue Cross agent.
- Enrolling online at bcbsm.com/myblue
Those Health Plan Advisors will be available December 26-30 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., and on Dec.31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is also important to note that these plans are not eligible for subsidies granted through the Affordable Care Act.
