Independence has the strongest network of doctors and hospitals. Open Enrollment for Individuals and Families begins November 1.
Open Enrollment for individual and family health plans begins today, November 1
Open Enrollment for individual consumers begins today, November 1. For individuals and families looking for health care coverage in 2022, Independence Blue Cross (Independence) will continue to offer a variety of health plans with comprehensive health care coverage and access to quality care. Individuals have from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022, to enroll in a health plan if they want coverage for 2022. Consumers who want to be covered starting January 1, 2022, must enroll by December 15, 2021.
“With Independence Blue Cross, members have access to the care they need, when they need it. Our members know we will be here when they need us. We’ve been the only insurer consistently offering individual health plans in the region since the individual health insurance marketplace opened. We offer the most popular health plans, access to the most doctors and hospitals, and zero-dollar virtual care options,” said Brett Mayfield, senior vice president and market president at Independence.
For 2022, Independence will continue to offer health plan options with access to the most doctors and hospitals in the Philadelphia five-county region. Nearly all Independence health plans provide virtual visits at zero cost for members for primary care, behavioral health, and dermatology services through MDLIVE*. These plans are available on Pennsylvania’s state-based health insurance exchange, Pennie, or by purchasing a health plan directly from Independence.
Expanded tax credits for consumers
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) is helping to make health care coverage more affordable. Pennsylvanians who do not have health care coverage through an employer or government program may qualify for the expanded premium tax credits created by the law to lower their monthly premiums for 2022. Individual consumers in Pennsylvania must review their health plan options and enroll before January 15, 2022, on the state-based health insurance exchange, pennie.com, to qualify for tax credits.
For those who did not apply in the past, Independence is recommending consumers take a look to see if they are eligible for tax credits for the first time. The Independence website includes a subsidy calculator to help consumers determine if they are eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly health plan premium. The final determination of tax credit or premium subsidy eligibility will be made by Pennsylvania’s health insurance exchange pennie.com.
Important dates to remember
| November 1, 2021 | Open enrollment begins for individuals not eligible for health care coverage through an employer or government program. |
| November 30, 2021 | Deadline to enroll in or renew an Independence Blue Cross health plan to ensure members receive their ID cards by January 1, 2022. |
| December 15, 2021 | Deadline to enroll in a health plan for health care coverage effective January 1, 2022. |
| January 15, 2022 | Open Enrollment ends. This is the final day individuals can enroll in health care coverage for 2022. |
How to sign up for health care coverage
While in-person assistance is suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Independence licensed agents are available in other ways to help consumers enroll in health care coverage through the January 15, 2022, deadline.
On the phone
Independence licensed sales agents are available by phone at 1-888-475-6206 (TTY: 711) to answer questions and help consumers enroll in health care coverage from Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online
Consumers can visit Independence’s website, ibx.com, to find the health insurance coverage that is right for them and enroll in a health plan directly with Independence. The state-based exchange, pennie.com, is the only place consumers can enroll in health plans with financial assistance, and Pennie will make the final determination for tax credit or premium subsidy eligibility.
For Spanish-speaking consumers, Independence has licensed, Spanish-speaking sales agents available by phone at 1-844-315-4884. There is also an easy-to-use Spanish-language website at ibx.com/mas.
*MDLIVE is an independent company
Contact:
Laura Hanes
215-910-0966 (cell)
Laura.Hanes@ibx.com