Post Rock Extension District
The Post Rock Connection
Family and Consumer Sciences Monthly Newspaper Column — October 2016
The Post Rock Connection
Post Rock Extension District Family and Consumer Sciences Column
Month of October 2016
By Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent, [email protected]
Prepare for Health Insurance Decision-Making
The fall season is a popular time to make health insurance decisions. Many employers, the Health
Insurance Marketplace, and some public programs, such as Medicare, utilize the fall as the one time each year
you can change or renew insurance coverage.
Generally, you can only buy health insurance coverage during annual open enrollment periods. It is
difficult to change coverage if you don’t experience a qualifying life event, so it’s best to take advantage of the
open enrollment period. If you experience a qualifying life event, such as losing job coverage, getting married,
or having a child, you can change your health insurance outside of the open enrollment period in a special
enrollment period.
Delays in enrollment, coverage, and penalties, may apply if the consumer doesn’t enroll at the
appropriate time. While there are a few exceptions, the Affordable Care Act requires that you are insured for at
least nine months out of every year, or you will have to pay a penalty at tax time for being uninsured.
Medicare open enrollment starts October 15, 2016 and ends December 7. Medicare Open Enrollment is
an annual opportunity for individuals with Medicare eligibility to make changes to Medicare Advantage or
Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. You can get free, un-biased health insurance
counseling from a SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) Counselor. To identify a SHICK
Counselor in your area, contact the Post Rock Extension District or the Kansas Agency on Aging office in your
area.
Open enrollment through the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace for 2017 coverage will begin
November 1, 2016. December 15 is the last day to enroll or change an insurance plan through the Marketplace
for coverage to start January 1, 2017. January 31 is the last day to enroll in or change a 2017 health plan. After
this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a special enrollment period. Cover Kansas
Navigators are trained, unbiased volunteers who can assist you with making decisions in the Marketplace. To
identify a Navigator in your area, call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 or contact the Post Rock Extension
District.
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It is recommended to review several aspects of insurance policies before you choose which one is right
for you and your family.
Seek to understand your current health care needs and identify if you’re at risk for a particular need
within the next year. It is also valuable to have a clear visual of your financial state. Making a smart health
insurance decision will depend on your health and your financial situation.
Determine which benefits are most important to you and your family. All plans are required to cover, at
minimum, the same basic set of essential benefits, which are usual medical and hospital care needs and
prescription medicines.
Check the drug formulary for your prescription drugs when looking at your options. Identify which
health care providers and pharmacies you prefer to use and which ones are in the plan’s provider network.
Weigh the costs of not only the premium, but also the deductible, coinsurance, and copayments for the
plans you are considering. What costs are you comfortable paying? Do you have an emergency fund to cover
expenses in case of sickness, job loss, or economic downturn?
Sometimes future needs are not predictable and the unknown may add stress to the decision-making
process. During your enrollment period, work to make an educated decision based on predictable needs. While
it becomes more difficult to alter your insurance coverage outside annual enrollment periods, there are
exceptions that qualify for special enrollment periods.
All of these factors should be considered when deciding which policy best suits your needs. Contact
your local Post Rock Extension District Office to access resources that can provide non-biased assistance as you
work through the health insurance decision-making process.
The Post Rock District of K-State Research and Extension serves Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne,
and Smith Counties. Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent, may be contacted at
[email protected] or by calling the office in Osborne 346-2521, Beloit 738-3597, Lincoln 524-4432, Mankato
378-3174, or Smith Center 282-6823. Like “Post Rock Extension” on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Our
website is www.postrock.ksu.edu.
Post Rock Extension District #1
Beloit Office 115 S. Hersey Beloit, KS 67420 (785) 738-3597
Lincoln Office 216 E. Lincoln P.O. Box 8 Lincoln, KS 67455 (785) 524-4432
Mankato Office 307 N. Commercial Mankato, KS 66956 (785) 378-3174
st
Osborne Office 113 N. 1 Street Osborne, KS 67473 (785) 346-2521
Smith Center Office 218 S. Grant P.O. Box 287 Smith Center, KS 66967 (785) 282-6823
Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. All educational programs
and materials are available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. K-State Research and Extension is
committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or
hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact a Post Rock District Office.
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