The open enrollment period to sign up for health insurance coverage for 2016 has come and gone.
The Gem state's health exchange called Your Health Idaho experienced record enrollment. In fact, YHI leaders are proud to report the second largest enrollment, per capita, in the entire U.S. The final tally for Idahoans who enrolled for 2016 came in at 102,353.
Those who do not have health insurance whatsoever should expect higher penalties at tax time.
There is a special enrollment period still available through YHI. Those who are eligible must have a life-changing event to have occurred like moving or getting married.
"We've encouraged people to work with brokers or agents in their community... whether it's to determine if you have a life change event that would allow you to enroll outside of open enrollment or start planning for next year so that you can be really educated about the choices and options and learn what really fits your family," said Pat Kelly, Your Health Idaho executive director.
A list of qualifying life-changing events are listed at http://yourhealthidaho.org.
For those new to health insurance, you do have to submit a payment each month in order to avoid breaks in coverage.
Idaho lawmakers created their own state-based exchange in order to have local control. By forgoing the federal marketplace exchange, the state has saved over $10 million, according to Kelly.
