Jan. 15 deadline to apply for affordable federal healthcare insurance; help available

The nonprofit Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i encourages uninsured Hawai‘i residents who do not qualify for Medicaid to enroll in federal marketplace healthcare insurance — which is affordable for most people after government subsidies — by the Jan. 15 deadline. 

The society has staff ready to help consumers enroll at no cost.

Here are five things to know:

• Deadline is Jan. 15: After the Marketplace Open Enrollment ends on Jan. 15, consumers need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a 2023 Marketplace plan. Triggers for a special enrollment period include loss of healthcare insurance, change in household composition, marriage, birth of a baby or loss of income. 

• Affordable Coverage: Through the Inflation Reduction Act, more people qualify for financial help with health insurance costs. Four out of five customers can find a plan for $10 per month or less after subsidies. 

• Quality Plans: Marketplace plans cover 10 essential health benefits, including doctor visits, emergency care, behavioral health care, preventative care, hospital care and prescription drugs. 

• Enrollment: Consumers can visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to enroll into Marketplace health insurance. 

• Need help? The Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i is ready to help consumers with enrollment. Call 808-536-4302, option 2. 

Established in 1950 with 10 offices statewide, the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i is a non-profit,  public interest law firm dedicated to increasing access to justice for the state’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.  

This project is supported by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling  $270,347 with 100 percent funding by the agencies.