Ron Bliss: Still a number of ways to purchase health insurance for those who need it

Open Enrollment for Healthcare ended on February 15 and a Special Enrollment Period, for those who didn’t have insurance last year and were fined, ended on April 30. However, there are still ways to obtain health insurance in 2015.

There are two routes you can go.

The first is if you work for a small business and that employer chooses a group health plan. Group health plans can be purchased at any time of the year. The employer will not only receive a tax credit for providing the insurance, but the employees will be able to avoid a tax penalty for not having a health insurance plan in 2015. Affordable Healthcare Pros works with employers to establish such a plan.

The other route is through a Qualifying Life Event. There are a number of instances that will qualify you for what is known as a QLE.

If you apply for Medicaid or Nevada Health Checkup (for those under 19) and are denied, you would be eligible to apply for health insurance on or off the marketplace. You will need a letter from the Department of Welfare and Supportive Services showing the denial. If you change jobs and lose insurance from your previous employer and your new employer does not offer what is considered “affordable” insurance, you would also qualify. The same is true for those dependents who lose insurance through their parents when they turn 26. In cases of loss of insurance, you have 60 days to get a new plan.

Other qualifying life events include the following:

* Getting Married or Divorced

* Death or birth in a family

* If you move from one state to the other, you would qualify for a new policy. In this case, you have 60 days to get new insurance.

* If your immigrant status changes.

* If you are released from the military or from incarceration.

If you have a change in income that leads to a significant change (20 percent or more), you also qualify for a new plan through Change In Circumstance.

If any of these apply to you, please contact us at Affordable Healthcare Pros. You can call 775-450-6769, 775-450-7754 or 775-450-450-6867 or call me personally at 775-224-7169.

Our office is located at 2307 North Carson Street in Carson City. You can come by or call to set an appointment. There is no charge for our services.

Ron Bliss is a former long-time sports writer who has been selling health insurance since 2009. He is certified on both the Nevada Health Link and through Covered California and can also write major medical policies off the exchanges for those who do not qualify for subsidies. Affordable Healthcare Pros also offers a variety of Medicare supplements and other supplemental health and life insurance plans.)