Connecticut: @AccessHealthCT extends deadline for January coverage out thru 12/31

After doing this for 8 years you'd think I would know better, and yet here we go again: Just a day after Your Health Idaho extended their 2022 ACA Open Enrollment Deadline out by a week (from 12/15 to 12/22), the Connecticut ACA exchange, Access Health CT, just announced their own enrollment extension:

Connecticut Residents Have More Time To Enroll In A Health Insurance Plan Through Access Health CT With Coverage Starting January 1, 2022

• Enroll between December 16 and December 31, 2021 and choose between coverage that starts January 1, 2022 or February 1, 2022

HARTFORD, Conn. (December 14, 2021) — Access Health CT today announced Connecticut residents have more time to shop, compare and enroll in a quality health insurance plan with coverage starting January 1, 2022. The deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2022 has been extended from December 15 to December 31, 2021. 

Customers who enroll between December 16 and December 31, 2021 will have the option to choose whether their coverage will start on January 1, 2022 or February 1, 2022. Customers who enroll between January 1, 2022 and January 15, 2022 will have coverage beginning February 1, 2022.

“We are grateful to work with our carrier partners to give Connecticut residents more time to enroll in a quality health insurance plan with coverage for the whole year,” said Chief Executive Officer of Access Health CT, James Michel. “Gaps in health insurance coverage can be costly and given that we have yet to emerge from the pandemic, access to quality, affordable health insurance has never been more important. We do, however, ask that customers exercise patience as their insurance company will need some time to get insurance ID cards out in the mail.”

Access Health CT is the only place to qualify for financial help to lower costs, and some Connecticut residents may be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through the HUSKY Health Program (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Plan) and the Covered Connecticut Program.

Connecticut residents can find free help and enroll in-person, online or by phone.

For free online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Live chat is available by clicking the “live chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative in real time. Live chat is available Monday – Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and select Saturdays from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

For free in-person help, residents may work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find a certified broker or enrollment specialist, visit the Get Help webpage.

In addition, residents may visit any of Access Health CT’s enrollment locations or either of the Navigator partner locations.

Residents may also contact our call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and select Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 15, the call center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to midnight. On Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, the call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.