Affordable Care Open Enrollment begins 11-1-15.

While there may be a lot of other things competing for your attention at this time of the year, it’s a good idea to brush up on your Affordable Care options for 2016. Open enrollment occurs this year between November 1 and January 31, 2016.

I'm often asked by some people why they need to buy health insurance.They reason that they are young and healthy so why not just go without insurance. 

Consider these facts:

Fact:  All marketplace plans cover you for the kind of health care that most young people and their families need most including immunizations and preventive services, mammograms, flu shots, childhood immunizations, cholesterol screenings and more. These services are provided with no co-pay or coinsurance even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible.They also include ten essential health care benefits including doctor visits, mental health services, emergency care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, maternity and newborn care.

Fact:  Unless you have an exemption, you are required by law to have health insurance for yourself and your family. Your coverage may be through your job, your parent’s plan, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source that provides qualifying coverage, but you must have coverage or an exemption.

Fact: The fees for not having health insurance are going up. If you don’t have coverage or an exemption in 2016, you’ll pay the higher of these two amounts:  2.5% of your yearly household income, or $695 per person ($347.50 per child under 18.) You’ll pay the fee with your federal income tax return you file for the year you don’t have coverage. If you don’t pay the fees, the IRS will hold back the amount of the fee from any future tax refunds.

A variety of plans will be available for individuals and families to fit your needs and budget. Financial help may be available to pay for part, or in some cases, all your health insurance premiums, but you need to apply in order to find out what this means for you. To look at your options, visit www.mutskoinsurance.comwww.mutskoinsurance.com  after November 1 and click on Get a Quote. Complete the online application and we will be in touch within 24-48 hours to answer your questions and complete your enrollment.

For more information on Affordable Care Plans and other insurance matters, please contact me Laura Mutsko at Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC at 440-255-5700 or email Lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com.