It’s no surprise – rushed decisions don’t always yield the best results. Many people, out of confusion or stress, speed through open enrollment. Or they procrastinate until the last possible moment. Yet this important decision impacts their health and finances for the full year ahead.
To help you prepare, and relieve any anxiety you may be feeling, we have an action plan that will help you understand your options more clearly. You can transform open enrollment from stressful to empowering. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Start open enrollment early
Familiarize yourself with what options Blue Shield is offering. Review your renewal booklet that was mailed to you. You can also review some plan comparison charts.
Step 2: Schedule time to assess
This is a basic step, but it can make all the difference. Open enrollment is November 1 through January 31, 2023, and it can go by before you know it. During that first week of open enrollment, book some time (an hour or so, to add some cushion) to review your current plan. Don’t cancel on yourself. Be prepared with whatever items you’ll need. In your Blue Shield Renewal Booklet that was mailed to you is an Open Enrollment Checklist that you may find helpful.
Step 3: Take this quick health plan assessment
Start with your health plan assessment. It will take just 10 to 15 minutes and it asks 5 key questions that will help you select the plan that fits you and your family best – whether that’s the same plan you have now or a new one. As you review plans, this assessment will help you eliminate the ones that don’t work for you. Narrow them down to a few options until one stands out the most.
Take notes as you go, so that you have your choices – along with any questions – handy for reference.
Step 4: Learn more about some standard health plan terms
If some health plan terms seem confusing, we can help.
Step 5: See if you qualify to receive financial help
You may be eligible for financial help in the form of a subsidy. Use our calculator to estimate the amount of premium help you could receive.* To use a subsidy, you will need to enroll in a medical plan sold through Covered California. But not to worry – if you want to keep your same Blue Shield plan, you may be able to. Many of the same Blue Shield plans are also sold on Covered California. Or we may have a similar plan within the same network. We have a plan chart and a checklist than can help.
Step 6: Reach out with questions
Scheduling time to explore your options and taking notes gives you time to sit with your decisions to make sure they feel right. Sometimes, last-minute questions bubble up, and this way, you’ll have a built-in buffer for that. If you do have questions, reach out to your broker or contact us. You can also use the Renewal Center website for answers.
Now that you’re armed with this series of action steps, put them into motion. Give yourself a better experience this year. Get started right now with the first step: scheduling a meeting with yourself or your family. You can do it!
If you want to keep your 2023 Blue Shield plan, you can – and you don't need to do anything else. †
If you want to see if want to see if a different plan will better fit your needs, you have until December 31, 2022, to make changes for a January 1 effective date.