Four health insurance tasks for Oregonians in new year

Oregonians who signed up for individual health insurance during open enrollment have four important tasks to consider as 2018 kicks off, officials reminded Thursday.

The tasks are:
Pay your January premium: Signing up for a 2018 health plan was the first step, but your coverage does not go into effect until you pay the first month’s premium.
Watch your mail for Form 1095: If you had health insurance last year, you may need this document to complete your 2017 federal tax filing. More information on these forms is available at https://go.usa.gov/xnmX5 .
Special enrollment for discontinued health plans: Oregonians who were enrolled in individual health benefit plans that discontinued on Dec. 31, 2017, qualify for a special enrollment period that runs through March 1. If you qualify for the special enrollment period, you may enroll through HealthCare.gov, directly with a carrier or by contacting a licensed health insurance agent.
Get to know your health plan: Get familiar with your plan’s benefits, providers and prescription drug coverage. Learn which doctors and hospitals are in your plan’s network, the out-of-pocket costs, if you need a referral to see a specialist, and if your current medications are covered. It is important to know your plan’s network because many plans do not cover non-emergency services by out-of-network providers.

If you have any questions regarding these tasks contact your health insurance provider, your agent or call the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace at 855-268-3767 (toll-free).

If you need to file a complaint visit http://dfr.oregon.gov/gethelp/Pages/file-a-complaint.aspx or call 888-877-4894 (toll-free).

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov. Follow DCBS on Twitter: @OregonDCBS. Receive consumer help and information on insurance, mortgages, investments, workplace safety, and more.