NEW ORLEANS – Louisianians who need to have individual health insurance coverage for 2016 have until Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, to buy insurance through Healthcare.gov.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana reps said they have trained agents available to help Louisiana consumers choose a plan and these agents can also help individuals find out if they might qualify for help paying for their insurance.
The federal health insurance marketplace, Healthcare.gov, is open through Jan. 31 for eligible people to purchase an individual health insurance plan. Those who miss the Jan. 31 deadline may have to wait until the next open enrollment period, which doesn’t begin until the fall, to buy coverage for 2017. Louisianians who don’t buy now could be responsible for the full price of their medical bills and could have to pay a federal tax penalty.
Individuals may be able to buy health insurance at other times during the year if they have a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, losing a job or turning 26 and aging off of their parents’ health insurance plan.
Blue Cross has local offices in eight Louisiana cities across the state:
• Alexandria: 4508 Coliseum Blvd., Suite A
• Baton Rouge: 5525 Reitz Ave. (I-10 and Bluebonnet Boulevard)
• Houma: 1437 St. Charles St., Suite 135
• Lafayette: 5501 Johnston St.
• Lake Charles: 219 W. Prien Lake Road
• Monroe: 2360 Tower Drive, Suite 102
• New Orleans (Metairie): 3501 North Causeway Blvd., Suite 600
• Shreveport: 411 Ashley Ridge Blvd.
BCBSLA reps said Louisiana consumers also have the option to shop and buy directly here.
Those who plan to enroll in an insurance plan through Healthcare.gov will need to have the following information ready:
• A personal email address for the person who will be purchasing the insurance policy
• The Social Security numbers of all members of the family/household who will get coverage through that policy (such as a spouse, children or other dependent relatives)
• (If applying for help paying for insurance) Employer and income information for all members of the household who will get coverage through that policy, such as pay stubs and W-2 forms
• Policy numbers for any health insurance coverage already in place
