Starting April 1, check out your health plan options – there are now new, bigger savings. You could be eligible for health plans for as little a few dollars a month. Get an estimate

These new savings will apply to all plans on Maryland Health Connection, however they may be reduced even more if you enroll in a Silver plan.

Your coverage effective date may be April 1 or later depending on how soon you enroll.If you received or are eligible to receive unemployment benefits at any point in 2021, even if it was just one week, you can enroll in a plan with monthly premiums of nearly $0 that includes doctor visits, prescriptions, COVID-19 care, and more. And there will be additional savings that will lower your deductible and copayments.

There’s a good chance you can now save even more on your monthly premium.Most people will not need to take any action. If you already selected the maximum financial assistance available, and the current income in your application has been verified, we will recalculate your eligibility based on the information in your application. Changes will be effective May 1. Even if we cannot automatically recalculate your eligibility, you can still log into your account on April 1 to see your savings.

Tax Credits
Many individuals and families will see bigger discounts on their monthly premiums in the form of increased tax credits (also known as Advance Premium Tax Credits)

If you don’t use the savings now, you’ll pay full price for your monthly premium, but you can choose to get the difference when you file your tax return next year.

If you chose to only use part of the tax credit available to you when you enrolled, beginning April 1, log into your account to update your application and see the additional savings available to you.

Unemployment
If you included unemployment compensation on your application, we may automatically redetermine your savings. If you have not received unemployment compensation this year, but you begin receiving it later this year, be sure to update your application.

For the first time, you may be eligible for savings even if you were not eligible before. Starting April 1, get an estimate.

Log into your account and update your application beginning April 1. Be sure to answer Yes to the question that asks about financial assistance. You’ll find out immediately if and how much your savings will lower your monthly premium.If you are enrolled in a private plan directly with an insurance company, not through Maryland Health Connection, you may be eligible for savings if you switch to a plan offered through Maryland Health Connection.

If you are currently enrolled in a Silver, Gold or Platinum plan, you may not be eligible to make a new plan selection.If you are currently enrolled in a Bronze or Catastrophic plan and would like to change your plan to a Silver, Gold, or Platinum plan, you must log into your account and change plans within 60 days.

Plans selected between the 1st through the 14th of the month become effective the first of the following month. If you make a plan selection between the 15th and the 31, the new plan will not be effective until the first of the next following month. (For example, a new plan selected May 1-14 is effective June 1; a new plan selected May 15-31 is effective July 1.)

If you received or are eligible to receive unemployment benefits at any point in 2021, even if it was just one week, you can enroll in a plan with monthly premiums of nearly $0. All types of unemployment compensation qualify, including regular state-paid benefits or emergency or extended unemployment provided through the federal government. You’ll also be eligible for reduced cost if you are enrolled in a Silver plan or choose to move from a Bronze plan to a Silver plan. This means lower deductibles and copays when you get medical care.

Changes related to receiving unemployment benefits expire Dec. 31, 2021.

If you are not enrolled
Indicate unemployment compensation on your application to receive maximum savings. If you received or are eligible to receive unemployment benefits at any point in 2021, even if it was just one week, you can enroll in a plan with nearly free coverage that includes doctor visits, prescriptions, COVID-19 care, and more. And there will be additional savings that will lower your deductible and copayments.

If you are enrolled
If you included unemployment compensation on your application, we may automatically redetermine your savings. If you have not received unemployment compensation this year, but you begin receiving it later this year, be sure to update your application.

Under normal circumstances, COBRA coverage is usually more expensive than what you paid while you were working, and a Maryland Health Connection plan would generally be a more affordable option, however this year is different.Effective April 1, 2021, the federal government will pay 100 percent of premiums for COBRA enrollees by paying the health plan directly. This COBRA subsidy will end on Sept. 30, 2021.

If you missed the deadline or decided not to enroll in COBRA
Starting April 1, you can still enroll even if you missed the deadline or decided not to enroll during the 60-day enrollment period. You can also enroll if you elected COBRA but later dropped it if you are still within the 18-month coverage period. For more information about enrolling or re-enrolling in COBRA, contact your former employer.

If you enrolled in COBRA with your former employer and have a new job
Once you are eligible for coverage under your new employer, you no longer qualify for free COBRA.