Ideally you want all these things, but if you don’t have everything still try getting as far as you can through the process.
- Last year’s tax information for you and your family
- Estimated income for the coming year
- Social Security Numbers for everyone enrolling
- Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (for example, from pay stubs or W-2 forms, social security, etc)
- If you are applying outside of the Annual Open Enrollment Period (Nov 1 to Dec 15) you will need a confirmation letter from your current employer insurance plan or COBRA stating that your insurance is ending and when.
There are two ways to sign up for insurance.
The easy way…
The easiest way to find a plan and enroll is to use our site (www.MaineInsuranceOptions.com) to sign up. It takes less than 15 minutes to find a plan and enroll. Plus you also get access to subsidies to lower your monthly premiums and local agents to help if you have questions along the way!
And of course there is also the hard way …
Healthcare.gov
If you don’t want to use our site and have the help of a local agent and want to do it all on your own (yes, there are people like that), here are the official directions for enrolling in a marketplace plan through Healthcare.Gov.
Remember signing up is only step one. You still need to choose a plan, upload documents and make your first payment for your coverage to begin officially. Working with an agent makes all this much easier! (Just saying…)
- Set up an account. First, you need to provide some basic information. Then choose a username, password, and security questions for added protection.
- Fill out the online application. You must provide information about you and your family including income, household size, current health coverage information, and more. This will help the Marketplace find options that meet your needs.
- Compare your options. You’ll be able to see all the options you qualify for, including private insurance plans and free and low-cost coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Enroll. After you choose a plan, you can enroll online and decide how you pay your premiums to your insurance company. If you or members of your family qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, a representative will contact you to enroll.
