It's that time of year again: In most states, the Affordable Care Act's annual open enrollment season for health plans begins Nov. 1 and lasts through Jan. 15.
Current enrollees who do not update their information or select an alternative will be automatically reenrolled in their current plan or, if that plan is no longer available, into a plan with similar coverage. Last year marked a record enrollment of about 21 million people. This time around, consumers will find a few things have changed.
Don't fall for advertising scams While some health plans offer small-dollar gift cards or other incentives to encourage participation in wellness efforts, they would not offer cash cards worth thousands of dollars a month to help with groceries, gas, or rent. Even so, social media and online sites are rife with such promises. Such ads are among the avenues allegedly used by unscrupulous brokers who enroll or switch plans without the express permission of consumers, according to a lawsuit filed in Florida.
Also, be cautious about the websites you use to search for coverage. Type "Obamacare" or "cheap health insurance" into a search engine and often what pops up first are sponsored private sector websites unaffiliated with the official state or federal government marketplaces for ACA coverage. While they may try to look official, they are not.
Many such sites offer various options, including non-ACA coverage with limited benefits, a "secret shopper" study found in 2023. Such non-ACA cove.
