Obamacare New Year’s Resolutions for Health Insurance Shoppers

January 06, 2016

eHealth tells consumers how to utilize their health insurance to help achieve fitness and financial goals for 2016

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – January 6, 2016 – Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH – eHealth.com), the nation’s first and largest private online health insurance exchange, offered consumers advice on how to utilize their health coverage and the Affordable Care Act’s 2016 open enrollment period to achieve their fitness and financial goals for the new year.

The 2016 nationwide open enrollment period for individual and family health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as “Obamacare”) is scheduled to end on January 31, 2016. After that date, some consumers may not be able to get individual or family health coverage until 2017.

Tackle Your New Year’s Resolutions with These Tips

  • Take advantage of gym discounts and health programs. Many health insurance plans come with discounted gym memberships or access to health management tools and healthy living programs that can help you achieve your health and fitness goals for the new year. To learn what’s available to you, contact your insurance company or visit their website.

  • Reduce your insurance premiums by quitting smoking. Did you know that in most states, health insurance companies can charge you more for health insurance as a smoker? It’s true. In 2015, smokers paid an average monthly health insurance premium of $311 while non-smokers paid only $272*. If you can beat smoking this year, you may qualify for lower premiums next year.

  • Save more money for health-related emergencies. If your 2016 health plan has an annual deductible of at least $1,300 ($2,600 for a family) and meets certain other requirements, you may be eligible to open a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs let you save money on a tax-deductible basis for a host of qualifying medical expenses, including copays, deductibles, dental care, glasses or contacts, and more. If you and your plan qualify, consider making the most of your health coverage by opening an HSA.

  • Bring down your taxable income with HSA contributions. If you want to help save on your taxes while also saving for future medical expenses, you can deposit money into your HSA until April 15, 2016 for the 2015 tax year. This could come in handy if you earned a bit too much to qualify for the health insurance subsidies you received in 2015. Depending on your circumstances, you could potentially avoid needing to repay subsidies to the government by depositing money into your HSA. Talk to your accountant for more information and to determine if you could qualify. 

  • Take advantage of open enrollment before it’s too late. The Obamacare open enrollment period for 2016 health plans continues through the end of January. It’s not too late to see if you can save money on health insurance or apply for subsidies for 2016. Don’t wait until the last minute! The open enrollment deadline crush can be frustrating. To see what’s available in your area, visit eHealth.com today.

Notes:                                                                      

* Based on consumers who purchased individual health insurance coverage at eHealth.com during 2015 and who did not utilize government subsidies.

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eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, the nation's first and largest private health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online through PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com) and Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com).

For more health insurance news and information, visit the eHealth consumer blog: Get Smart - Get Covered or visit eHealth's Consumer Resource Center.

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