Jennifer Sullivan Discusses Active Consumer Re-Enrollment

Consumers should be actively engaged with their health coverage, so they will not only be informed of fines that may incur if they do not enroll, but so that they are also aware of any new plans for the coming year that may best fit them and their family, said Jennifer Sullivan, director of the Best Practices Institute at Enroll America.

Transcript (slightly modified)

What is the importance of having consumers actively engage in re-enrolling in their health coverage rather than just relying on the auto renewal?

This is one of the most important things we focused on at Enroll America, which is ensuring that consumers understand the importance of revisiting the marketplace every year, checking out the new plans and new prices that may exist to them. Even if nothing has changed for their circumstance, the amount of financial help they may qualify for and the plans available to them change from year to year, we want them to know that and take action so they have the best plan for them and their family for the coming year.

Do you think the increased fine for not having health coverage made an impact on the most recent open enrollment period?

This has only been the first year that the fine has really we think been felt and the consumers have been exposed to that. Of course this past year in 2015, as consumers were filing their taxes, that was the first time they might have been exposed to a fine if it affected them. We do think that it’s an important thing to inform consumers of, so that they can make the best decision about their finances. As the fine goes up, we do think that it will have an increasing impact on certain consumers and making sure they take action.