Last minute tips to sign up for Obamacare

Last-minute Obamacare tips. (Shutterstock)

• Have all your paperwork in-hand: Enrolling for Obamacare isn’t just as simple as turning on your computer and clicking a “sign me up” button. Though the website will walk you through the enrollment process, you still need to make sure you have the appropriate documentation on hand. According to the website, to complete the enrollment process you will need your social security number and those for any members also on your insurance. You will also need employer and income information for everyone on the insurance; this includes W2 forms, previous tax statements and pay stubs. In addition to these documents, you will need current coverage numbers for anyone who already has health coverage in the family, and you will need a completed Employer Coverage Tool form which is found on the website as well.
• Log on when traffic is slow: One of the main issues with the enrollment website was the fact too many people were trying to log into the system all at once. This caused an overload and prevented many people from completing their applications. Though it is no longer considered and issue, you may still find online traffic affects how fast you can move through healthcare.gov. Try to pick times of the day when fewer people will be accessing the website, like early morning or late at night. Keep in mind, however, that time zones do account for a three-hour swing across the nation, so your “late night” may not be so late for the opposite coast.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help: This close to the health insurance deadline is not the time to be taking chances with your application. If you are uncomfortable using the Internet to sign up, seek out your local ACA representatives to help you out. This is also true for individuals who do not speak English fluently; the Spanish version of healthcare.gov has also bee fraught with issues. Do not take the chance and enroll online if you are uneasy with computers. IF you don’t have time to visit a representative in person, you can enroll over the phone by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). At this point in time it is too late to try to mail your application in.
• Remember the March 31st deadline isn’t “all or nothing”: Though for the majority of individuals enrollment closes after March 31st, don’t panic if you need health insurance after that date. There is still a chance you may be able to join the marketplace if you have what is known as a “qualifying event.” These include switching jobs, having a baby, or moving out of state. In circumstances like these the government allows you 60 days to apply for health care coverage.
• Don’t believe everything you hear: If you’re opting out of buying health care coverage, make sure you made the decision after you’ve talked to an ACA representative. There is a common assumption out there that paying the tax penalty is actually cheaper than purchasing insurance, but with the long list of tax credits available, that isn’t usually the case. A report from ABC News indicates if you are a 26-year-old singleton living in Greenville, Ky. and you make around $20,000 a year, the tax credits you receive completely offsets the cost of your insurance premiums for a Silver level plan. So, essentially the policy costs you nothing.
• Make sure you know what type of coverage you need: There’s no reason you can’t change your coverage level during the next enrollment period, and a large part of the cost associated with insurance is the level of coverage selected. Before you let cost chase you away, have a list ready of areas where you absolutely need coverage (like eye care, dental care, child care, etc). Though you may think you need Silver level coverage, a healthy individual without a family and without any risky hobbies may be fine with a much lower level of coverage.

If you’re currently uninsured and were on the fence about enrolling, take the time to at least make a phone call and talk to a representative. Obamacare offers affordable coverage for many individuals, and participating in the ACA not only benefits you personally, but it provides a bigger pool of money to draw from. The more people who put into the pool, the lower costs end up being for everyone involved.

SEE ALSO: Despite drop in uninsured, Hispanics slow to sign up for Obamacare