The second open enrollment period for the state and federal health insurance marketplaces is quickly approaching. And 2015 is right around the corner. As a dental insurance broker, you probably are wondering what you can expect next year with health reform and the Affordable Care Act. 

Here's what insurance brokers need to know about the ACA in 2015:

• Open enrollment for 2015 coverage is Nov. 15, 2014, to Feb. 15, 2015. People without coverage during 2015 may have to pay a fee, and it will be higher than it was in 2014 — 2% of their income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more.
  
  During open enrollment, if you enroll:
  
  --Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
  --Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second following month. So if you enroll on January 16, your coverage starts on March 1.
  
  
• Enrollees will receive two notices by the end of Nov. 2014: one from the marketplace and another from the insurance carrier. The notices will explain the following:
  
  --They are being automatically enrolled in their current plan. This notice will tell them what plan they’re enrolled in, their 2015 monthly premium and estimated savings, any changes to the plan for 2015, and other important coverage information.
  --They aren’t being automatically enrolled and need to choose a plan for 2015. This notice will tell them their coverage options, enrollment deadlines and next steps.
  
  Note: It’s important for your groups and their employees to know that even if they are being automatically enrolled, they can still switch to a different plan during the 2015 open enrollment.
  
  
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released policies regarding Exchange and Insurance Market Standards for 2015 and beyond. Some of the key policies outlined include:
  
  --Standardizing Notices to Improve Consumer Education and Choices: CMS is striving to provide clear information to consumers when carriers make changes to their health insurance coverage. Standardized notices must be used when renewing coverage or discontinuing products, so consumers understand the changes.
  --Providing Additional Options for SHOP in 2015: The start of the annual employer election periods in Federally facilitated (FF)-SHOPs for plan years beginning in 2015 has been aligned with the start of open enrollment in the individual market exchange for the 2015 benefit year to minimize confusion and maximize efficiency.

Make sure you're up to speed on these things. Remember, you are your customers' resident expert on the ACA. They'll be looking to you for guidance as open enrollment is gearing up.

Any questions about your current Solstice products? Login to your portal on https://www.solsticemarketplace.com/ 

Want to start selling Solstice? Give us a call at 877-760-2247 or email us at sales@solsticebenefits.com