Medicaid and KCHIP open enrollment in a Managed Care Organization (MCO) is scheduled for October 24, 2016 through December 16, 2016. Medicaid individuals wishing to change their current MCO must do so during the open enrollment period. A MCO change made during this period will be effective January 1, 2017. After you change a MCO you will have 90 days to make another change. After 90 days, you will not be able to make another change until the next open enrollment period, unless you have an event that allows a change. To change a MCO call 1-855-446-1245 or 1-800-635-2570 between 8:00am and 5:00pm to talk with a Member Representative. If you want to stay with your current MCO, you do not have to do anything.

There are changes in how to apply and enroll for 2017. All QHP qualified individuals must complete an application and enroll at HealthCare.gov for 2017 coverage. Open Enrollment Period for plan year 2017 is November 1, 2016 to January 31st, 2017. You must enroll by December 15th, 2016 for coverage to start January 1, 2017.

Get Help In-Person. Click Below to get help from people in Kentucky trained to help you enroll in health insurance plans, Medicaid and KCHIP.

Are you a Small Business Employer or Employee?
Click here to get the information about your 2016 and 2017 coverage.

Healthcare coverage should not be work.

Welcome Small Business Employers and Employees

Manage your existing 2016 plan

Employers
Click Here

Employees
Click Here

If your group's plan year started in kynect SHOP in 2016, it will remain in kynect SHOP for the entire 12-month period of coverage. For example, if your group's coverage effective date is August 1, 2016, your group's coverage will end on kynect SHOP on July 31, 2017. At that point, the group could enroll on healthcare.gov for 2017 coverage.

It is easy to appy yourself or to find an insurance agent to help you. They will start your application for you.To find one, click here

Explore 2017 SHOP Plans

Employers
Click Here

Employees
Click Here

Starting in 2017, new enrollments for 2017 will use healthcare.gov to sign up to get the savings and selection for Small Business Health Options Program or SHOP. Click the link Let's Get Started and start your application today. Click here to get started.

Take healthcare into your own hands

Welcome Individuals & Families

It’s nice to talk to someone when you are choosing healthcare coverage. Kentucky has trained insurance agents and kynectors (application assisters) across the state who will help you for free.

Agents can recommend the best insurance plan for your family. Kynectors (application assisters) can help you apply for Medicaid and the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), as well as health insurance. To find help near you, click the grey Insurance Agents or kynectors (Application Assisters) tabs above.

Find an Insurance Agent or kynector

Most Americans must have health insurance. Enrolling on this site may qualify you for help paying your insurance costs, based on income. This site and healthcare.gov are the only places Kentuckians can qualify for these savings. You can also apply for programs like Medicaid and KCHIP. Employers with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees may be eligible for tax credits.

It's is easy to apply. Use our Enrollment Checklist to gather your information. If you do need help, just call customer service to find someone who can answer your questions at 1-855-459-6328.

Or, click on the Insurance Agents or kynectors (Application Assisters) tab to find help in your community – by phone or in person.

If you can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it, you must pay a fee called the Individual Shared Responsibility Payment . You owe the fee for any month you, your spouse, or your tax dependents do not have health insurance that qualifies as minimum essential coverage. The fee for not having health insurance in 2016 is the higher amount of 2.5% of household income or $695 per adult.

One monthly bill even if you use multiple insurance companies

Welcome Small Employers

There is a new way to SHOP. The Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP, makes it easier for employers with 50 or fewer workers to provide employee health insurance. Employers decide plans, dates and more. SHOP handles many of the details and billing for you. SHOP will help you set the enrollment period that is right for your business.

Compare plans by what you pay or what services are covered. You can select a plan from one insurance company or several plans from many insurance companies. It is easy to apply or to find an insurance agent to help you. They will start your application for you.

Tax credits may be available for businesses with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.

To qualify for tax credits, businesses meet three rules:

Have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
Pay at least 50 percent of employee premiums.
Have a group average yearly wage less than $50,000.

Agent participation is good business

Welcome Insurance Agents

You can continue to help your clients manage their 2016 enrollments on kynect.ky.gov

As an insurance agent, you play a crucial role in enrolling individuals and small businesses in healthcare coverage. If you wish to enroll Kentuckians through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM or healthcare.gov), there are four steps :

Register with the FFM
Complete required training (web-based modules)
Assist consumer through marketplace website healthcare.gov or through issuer website
Annual Registration

All agents participating in the FFM must complete registration on the CMS Enterprise portal at http://portal.cms.gov (i.e., create an FFM user account, select the agent/broker role and complete identity proofing) if they have not done so previously.

To participate in FFM each year, agents must also complete a Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) profile, complete the required training and exams, and execute the Individual Marketplace Agreements (i.e., General and Privacy and Security Agreement).To begin, click on the portal link above

To get started selling small employer health insurance through the SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program) Marketplace, you'll need to register, sign an aggreement, and create a profile on the SHOP Marketplace Agent/Broker Portal. You'll find all the information you need at https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/agents-and-brokers/

To enroll individuals in Kentucky, Insurance Agents will also need to register and complete special trainings in benefind. Find out more by clicking the link benefind training.

To find a trained agent close to you, click here.

Find a plan and add it to your shopping cart.

Welcome Small Business Employees

Choosing healthcare coverage is easy for employees of companies with 50 or fewer workers. You can view a summary of the plans offered by your employer. And, you can select a plan, enroll and manage your account online or by phone.

Select the one you want, add it to your shopping cart, and check out. It is that simple. Your employer can tell you if you are enrolled through SHOP. You will also be able to get help as you complete your application from Customer Service at 1-855-459-6328.

Compare plans side by side or see just one plan in detail. Compare by how much your Employer pays toward your insurance bill, the annual deductible or participating doctors, hospitals and clinics.

Get informed about filing your taxes.

General Information

Failing to file a tax return will prevent you from receiving payment assistance (APTC) the next year.

If advance payments of the premium tax credit (payment assistance) were paid on behalf of you or an individual in your family in 2015, and you did NOT file a 2015 tax return, you will NOT be eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions (special discounts) to help pay for your kynect health insurance coverage in 2017. This means you will be responsible for the full cost of your monthly premiums and all covered services. In addition, the IRS may contact you to pay back some or all of the 2015 advance payments of the premium tax credit.

It is not too late to file taxes for 2015 and to reconcile any advance credit payments you received in 2015. Filing will maintain your eligibility for future payment assistance.

Remember that filing electronically is the best and simplest way to file a complete and accurate tax return as it guides you through the process and does all the math.

If you have a question about the information shown on your Form 1095-A, or about receiving Form 1095-A, contact kynect at 1-844-373-2417. If you have a question about other tax filing issues, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

General Information

Form 1095 is a tax form just like a W-2. In general, Form 1095s report the type of health coverage you had and what months you had it. You will need Form 1095 in order to complete your Federal tax return. There are 3 types of Form 1095s – A, B and C.

Form 1095-A is for individuals who received payment assistance (APTC) to lower the cost of their health insurance. It reports the APTC you received, as well as the months you had coverage. You will use Form 1095-A to fill out IRS Form 8962. Form 8962 may be part of your Federal tax filing.

If you receive APTC, you must file a tax return. Your tax return is how the IRS knows you received the correct amount of payment assistance. If you got advanced payments to help to lower your insurance bill each month or APTC, and you do not file a tax return, you will not be able to get advanced payments next year. You may still be eligible for payment assistance but you will have to wait until you file your taxes to receive it.

Any member of your household that was enrolled in Medicaid or KCHIP through kynect will receive their own Form 1095-B. If you file a tax return, you will be asked if you had health coverage. Form 1095-B is proof of the coverage you had through kynect. You should save Form 1095-B with your tax information. If you don’t file a tax return, just keep Form 1095-B for your records.

Form 1095-C is for individuals covered by insurance through their jobs. It will come from your employer if the business employs 50 or more full time employees. It reports the months that you had coverage. kynect cannot help you if you have a question about Form 1095-C. You must ask your employer.

Click on Tax FAQs to find the answers to your questions about health coverage and your taxes. You can find out about the tax penalty, personal exemptions, tax forms, detailed information on 1095s and more.

You can also get answers to your questions from your tax preparer, your accountant or the IRS. To reach the IRS help service, go online to irs.gov/aca or call the IRS toll free at 1-800-829-1040.

Kentuckians have access to nearly 200 free tax preparation sites across the state where trained and IRS-certified volunteers will help you with your taxes. For more information on Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), go to assistance.ky.gov or call Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452.

How health coverage affects your 2016 federal income tax return

If anyone in your household enrolled in a health plan through kynect in 2016, your health coverage may affect your income taxes when it comes time to file. This page provides information and tools to help you better understand the steps you need to take to file your tax return.

You will provide additional information when you file your 2016 federal income tax return
You may have to complete one or two additional tax forms
You may have to get a health coverage exemption or pay a fine when you file your taxes

You will receive a 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement from kynect if you received payment assistance to help pay your insurance premiums. You will need to file Form 8962 with the IRS.

You will not receive a 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, from kynect and will not need to file Form 8962 with the IRS, if you only received coverage through any of the following programs in 2015:

Medicaid
KCHIP
Medicare
Catastrophic Health Insurance

If you or another family member received coverage through Medicaid, KCHIP, or Medicare, you will instead receive Form 1095-B, Health Coverage. This Form 1095-B provides information needed to report on your income tax return that you, your spouse, and individuals you claim as dependents had health coverage during 2016. You will not need to fill out Form 8962 for Medicaid, KCHIP or Medicare coverage.

If you or another family member were offered or received coverage through a large employer-sponsored plan, you will receive Form 1095-C directly from your employer.

Form 1095-A will come in a blue envelope. Form 1095-B will come in a yellow envelope.

You may receive one or more of the following Tax Forms in the mail to use when filing your 2015 taxes in 2016:

Tax Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement
Tax Information Notice for 1095-A
Tax Information Notice for 1095-B
Tax Form 1095-B, Health Coverage (Medicaid and KCHIP)
Tax Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage

These forms will also be available to you through your kynect mailbox

Other important tax forms:

We know you have questions. Please click on Frequently Asked Questions to find the answers you need.

Free tax help is available. Kentuckians have access to nearly 200 free tax preparation sites across the state where trained and IRS-certified volunteers will assist you with your taxes. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. For more information or to find a site near you, go to assistance.ky.gov, or call Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452. For more information about free electronic tax filing software for Kentucky residents, go to revenue.ky.gov/FFAOffers.htm.

kynect has tools to help you get the information you need. Select a tool and click 'Get Tax Details':

Benchmark Tool: Look up the Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan (SLCSP) to help you determine your Premium Tax Credit (for Form 8962)

Exemption Tool: Look up the Lowest Cost Bronze Plan (LCBP) to help determine your eligibility for an exemption (for Form 8965)

Tax Filing Questions

irs.gov/aca

1-800-829-1040

1095-A Questions

kynect.ky.gov

1-844-373-2417

Exemption Questions

healthcare.gov/exemptions

1-800-829-1040

Federal Tax Forms

irs.gov

1-800-829-1040

Free In Person Tax Assistance

assistance.ky.gov

1-800-456-3452

Free Tax Filing Software

revenue.ky/FFAOffers.htm or KRS.gov/freefile

You may also want to consider working with a professional tax preparer or tax attorney.

How can I help?

Welcome kynectors (Application Assisters)

You can continue to help your clients manage their 2016 enrollments on kynect.ky.gov

As an kynector (application assister), you have a key role in your community. You can be an important resource for individuals needing healthcare coverage. Through your role, you educate, enroll and break down barriers to your neighbors getting access to healthcare.

Kynectors (Application Assisters) are individuals or organizations trained and able to help consumers, small businesses and their employees as they look for health coverage options through the Marketplace. This includes completing eligibility and enrollment forms. As an assister, you are required to be unbiased. And, your services are free to consumers.

If you are interested in becoming an kynector (application assister) in Kentucky, click on https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/assister-programs/about-assister-programs.html for more information on the registration and training required to become an kynector (application assister).

As an kynector (application assister), you play a crucial role in enrolling individuals and small businesses in healthcare coverage. If you wish to enroll Kentuckians through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM or healthcare.gov), there are four steps :

Register with the FFM
Complete required training (web-based modules)
Assist consumer through marketplace website healthcare.gov or through issuer website
Annual Registration

To enroll individuals in Kentucky, assisters will also need to register and complete special trainings in benefind. Find out more by clicking the link benefind training.

To find a trained kynector (application assister) close to you, click here.

Failing to file a tax return will prevent you from receiving payment assistance (APTC) the next year.

How health coverage affects your 2016 federal income tax return

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