I'm hearing from people who are switching plans as they check out their new rates for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchange. I'm working on a story and would love to hear people's experiences, but in the meantime, the Kaiser Family Foundation offers an important tip:
Insurers have expressed concerns that if a consumer changes plans, problems with the federal website might keep insurers from learning of the change and consumers could get billed for both plans. “It’s an issue we’re aware of and we’re working with exchange officials to make sure there’s a solution for consumers,” said Clare Krusing, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group. Aaron Albright, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said insurers will get lists of individuals who have been automatically enrolled into their current plan as well as those who chose to re-enroll. He also said that the agency is "examining options” on how to provide insurers the names of people who picked another plan during open enrollment.
Just in case, keep proof of payment to answer any billing questions and once you’ve cancelled the old policy watch your credit card statements or, if the payment was deducted directly from a bank account, watch those charges to make sure you aren’t paying for two policies. And don’t cancel your current insurance until you have confirmation from your new carrier that you’re covered.
That's among a list of five tips for people enrolling or re-enrolling during the 2015 open enrollment period, which runs through Feb. 15. Read the other four here.