Fed. govt: Tips for how to get on HealthCare.gov

If you’re still having trouble getting on HealthCare.gov, the federal government offered these tips:

– If you’ve tried Healthcare.gov – especially in October or early November – and your application seems stuck or you can’t move forward, try starting the process again. First, log in to your account, select the application in progress and hit “remove.” Then close and re-open your web browser. Log back into your Healthcare.gov account and start a new application. Having trouble? Call our Customer Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.

– If you filled out a paper application, call our Customer Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to get your application ID number and find out if your eligibility determination has been made. You can use this information after you create an account on HealthCare.gov to review plans and enroll. You can use this information after you create an account on HealthCare.gov to review plans and enroll. You can use this information after you create an account on HealthCare.gov to review plans and enroll. Or you can finish the process on the phone or with in-person assistance in your local community (visit findlocalhelp.healthcare.gov to find a trained assistor).

– No matter how you apply for coverage and select a plan through the Marketplace, you need to pay your premium on or before December 31, 2013 in order to have coverage by January 1, 2014. Although you compare and choose a plan using the Health Insurance Marketplace, once you select a plan, you must pay your premium to the insurance company directly – not to the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you select a plan on Healthcare.gov, you will see an orange message indicating you must make payment to be covered on January 1. Insurers handle payment differently, so follow the instructions from the insurer you select about what forms of payment are accepted and the due date of your first premium – which will be on or before December 31, 2013, depending on the plan you choose.

– If you aren’t sure if you’ve finished the process and enrolled in the plan of your choice, call your insurance company. They can confirm that you have paid your first month’s premium and you are enrolled. They will also send you plan information and insurance card. If you’re having trouble, call our Customer Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.

– You can get help where and when you need it – on Healthcare.gov, by phone or in person. You can also use more than one of these tools to enroll. For example, you can start an application online and then call our Customer Call Center 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1 855-889-4325) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get help enrolling over the phone. Or, you can also find in–person help from certified assisters in your area. Just enter your zip code to get started.

You have until December 23 to get coverage to kick in on January 1, 2014.

And if you just want to window shop for the types of coverage that’s available and possible discounts, go to “See Plans” at healthcare.gov.

We’d love to hear if you’ve had success in getting on HealthCare.gov and what kind of plans you found. Please contact Monifa Thomas at mjthomas@suntimes.com. Thanks!