5 Things to Know: Pennie Open Enrollment

October 31, 2022

Open enrollment on the state health insurance marketplace, Pennie, begins tomorrow.

Heading into open enrollment, state officials are reminding consumers that it’s especially important this year to review the available health plans and shop for the one that best suits their needs. Consumers need to pick plans by December 15 for coverage starting during the New Year. Open enrollment on the state health insurance marketplace closes January 15.

“Obtaining affordable, quality health care has never been easier in Pennsylvania thanks to Pennie’s one-stop shop design,” Governor Tom Wolf said in a statement today.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Addressing the ‘family glitch’:  The IRS has published a new rule that aims to address the “family glitch” that prevented some people from receiving subsidies.
  • The rule changes how plan affordability is determined, looking at the cost of family premiums instead of individual plans to determine subsidy eligibility.
• Cost of coverage:  On average, individual market plans through Pennie increased 5.5 percent this year. There will be a 5.3 percent average increase in the small group market.
  • When selecting plans, be sure to check if your doctor and other preferred providers are in-network and what the total cost of coverage, including co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance, will be.
• Subsidies available:  About nine in 10 Pennie customers qualify for financial savings, and nearly 40 percent pay less than $75 a month for coverage.
• Help available:  If you need assistance selecting a plan, find resources online or call (844) 844-8040 during open enrollment.
• Quotable:  “Through the online state-based system, Pennsylvanians have instant access to a variety of resources to help them understand how to apply, shop, and enroll in health coverage,” Wolf said.

HAP urges everyone who needs health insurance to evaluate their coverage options on Pennie. Earlier this year, HAP and a coalition of Pennsylvania health care organizations successfully urged federal lawmakers to extend the health insurance subsidies to “ensure a stable health care market that provides access to high-quality and affordable coverage for all Pennsylvanians.”

Learn more about 2023 Pennie open enrollment online.