December 15, 2015 is the deadline to log back on to healthcare.gov before the automatic renewal process commences. If an eligible consumer has not taken action by December 15th in terms of their current health plan purchased through the federal insurance marketplace,  the marketplace will automatically renew their current coverage, starting January 1, 2016.

While it may not seem worth the hassle, there are a number of important reasons to take a proactive approach and log back into healthcare.gov to be sure your current plan is the best choice:

• Potential Premium Savings: The cost of your current plan is likely to change this year, and the lowest cost plan from last year is not necessarily going to remain the lowest cost plan in the coming year. You can take this opportunity to shop for a plan with lower premiums. According to a recent analysis from the federal Dept. of Health Services, 80 percent of federal marketplace shoppers could find a better deal on their marketplace health plan if they were willing to switch.
• Cost Sharing Reductions: Individuals with household incomes between 100%-250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) may be eligible for cost-sharing that significantly reduces their copays and deductibles. You must choose a silver-level plan in order to receive these cost-sharing reductions.
• Changes to Health Plans: Your provider network and benefit design can change each year. It’s important to check to make sure your plan covers the doctors, hospitals, and benefits you prefer use.
• Update your Information: This is a good time to go in and update your household and income information to ensure that your premium tax credit amount is accurate.

Consumers can shop for a new plan and update their personal information by visiting www.healthcare.gov.

Sashi Gregory