Health department reminds consumers about marketplace open enrollment

Open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces began last week, making now a great time for consumers to examine deals found on the marketplace, save money and better meet their health care needs, according to the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Department.

Consumers have until December 15 to enroll.

Rebecca Burns, health officer at the tri-county health department, said the vast majority of people can find good deals on the marketplace and receive financial assistance to help lower their monthly health-care costs.

In Michigan, 65 percent of current marketplace consumers will have plans available for 2020 that cost less than $50 per month after tax credits. Burns noted that nearly eight of 10 marketplace enrollees in Michigan received premium tax credits to help them pay for their 2019 coverage.

Consumers should log on to Healthcare.gov before Dec. 15 to get the comprehensive health coverage they need. For information about what the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has to offer, its website is bhsj.org.