Open enrollment begins Thursday for the Affordable Care Act's online marketplace. Kate Ende, of Maine-based Consumers for Affordable Health Care, says consumers should check their options, especially if they're among the 75,000 Mainers who enrolled last year. Ende says insurance companies send renewal notices with updated premium costs, but those estimates often don't include current subsidy levels.
"And so if it's much higher than what you're used to paying, please don't be discouraged by that or panic," Ende said. "You likely wouldn't have to pay that amount."
Consumers for Affordable Health Care has a help line for those who need assistance choosing plans. Open enrollment runs through Dec. 15.
