Shop and Enroll in Individual and Family Plans
Shopping and enrolling in a plan on the website saves time, and it's more convenient than calling us at a specific time. You can shop and enroll in plans any time during your Open Enrollment or when you have a Special Enrollment Period. There's no need to schedule an appointment with a Via Benefits licensed benefit* advisor. If you'd like to shop for plans on the website and then speak with a benefit advisor to enroll, that's okay, too. Select Speak to an Expert from the Menu to Reserve a Time to Call a benefit advisor.
You can stop during this enrollment process if you need. When you come back, you have the option to continue the application where you left off (as long as your enrollment deadline hasn't passed).
Shop for a Plan
1.Sign into Via Benefits if you haven't already.
2. Select Shop for Plans in the Shop & Compare section of the Home page.
3. Select a person to shop for who isn't listed as Medicare-eligible.
4. Select Individual and Family.
5. Select I Understand, Continue in the pop-up box.
6. Select Shop when you are ready to continue shopping. Refer to the Comprehensive Health Coverage section of this article.
7. Select the person who is enrolling in a plan and answer the tobacco question, select Next.
Note: If multiple people are to be on the same plan, select all of those people here. Select Add/Edit Household Members if someone is missing from your list.
8. Answer the health questions for each person applying for the plan, select Save and Continue.
Note: The answers to these questions don't affect your eligibility to enroll in a health plan. Answering the questions is optional.
9. Verify your health summary, select Next.
Note: You can Update Your Answers if needed.
10. You'll be presented with plan metal tier and optional coverage recommendations based on your needs. Review the information, select Next.
11. Depending on your former employer or benefits provider, you may be presented the option to Shop Private Plans or to Shop Marketplace Plans.
Note: Some plans may require you to call us to enroll. Call us to speak to a benefit advisor.
12. Choose when you need coverage, select Continue. If you are currently enrolled in a plan, you will see your current plans. You can select View Plan Details to review your application and edit your information.
Note: To continue an application follow the onscreen instructions.
13. Select the person who’s enrolling in a plan and answer the tobacco question, select Continue. If multiple people are to be on the same plan, select all of those people here.
Note: If you’re continuing an application, you can change the shoppers while you’re shopping or when completing the application.
14. Select the Primary Contact and review the page. Select Continue if everything's correct.
Note: To make changes, navigate to the Profile page using the Menu at the top of the page. Make your changes and select Save. Select Go to Shop for Plans to return to shopping.
15. Provide information about Who needs health coverage, select Continue.
Note: You can add your spouse and dependents here.
16. Provide Your household information, select Continue.
17. After entering your estimated income, an estimated savings per month appears. If you previously selected employer funding, this savings doesn't apply to you. This is the estimated Premium Tax Credit (PTC) amount. Select Continue.
18. If it's outside the Open Enrollment Period, select your qualifying event for your Special Enrollment Period, select Continue.
19. Provide the requested information as prompted.
20. You're presented with the Most affordable plan based on the information you provided.
Note: You can also filter the plans by Lowest premium or view All plans.
This page provides some basic information about the plan, such as the deductible amount, out-of-pocket max, and copays. Select View plan details to learn more about the plan.
21. Select Enroll in this plan if you want to enroll in this plan. You'll be taken to the application.
Note: The lower Monthly premium shown on this page is when using the Premium Tax Credit. If you chose employer funding this discounted premium doesn't apply to you. When you select Enroll in this plan, the premium corrects itself.
To change shoppers, select Edit under the Via Benefits logo at the top of the page. Update the details you’d like to change.
22. When viewing All Plans, you can use various filters on the left side of the page to narrow plan results. Each plan provides a summary of the coverage, including the plan name, network, metal level, monthly premium, deductible, out-of-pocket max, and copays, etc.
23. Select Enroll now when you're ready to enroll in a plan. You'll be taken to the application.
Note: The lower Monthly premium shown on this page is when using the Premium Tax Credit. If you previously chose employer funding, this discounted premium doesn't apply to you. When you select Enroll now, the premium corrects itself.
To change shoppers, select Edit under the Via Benefits logo at the top of the page. Update the details you’d like to change.
24. Agree to the privacy statement by selecting both boxes and Continue.
25. Confirm the Primary contact information, select Continue.
26. Confirm you Household information, select Continue.
Note: You can add or remove applicants here.
27. Complete the Members section. Enter and select the appropriate answers, select Continue.
28. On the Additional questions page, select Continue during Open Enrollment. Outside Open Enrollment, check the appropriate boxes and enter additional information.
29. You can edit your information on the Finalize page. Once you have verified everything is correct, select Continue.
30. You need to Agree or Disagree with each statement, sign your name exactly as it appears on the application, and select Continue.
31. Review eligibility results. Select Download Eligibility Letter (required) and select Review plan.
32. Confirm your plan. Select Enroll in this plan.
33. Your application is securely submitted to the Marketplace.
34. Make your first month's premium payment (binder payment). Submit documentation requested by the Marketplace (e.g., proof of citizenship, finances, proof of identity). Lastly, wait for a notice with the results of the Marketplace's review of your documents.
Funding Decision
1. The Your Funding Decision page displays if your employer or benefits provider is offering you funding.
Note: You can only accept your reimbursement arrangement (if offered by your employer) or use the Premium Tax Credit (PTC), not both. Please call us if you need help determining if you qualify for the PTC.
2. Select Make Decision if you'd like to make your funding decision.
Select your decision. (You’re deciding whether to opt in and accept your reimbursement arrangement or to opt out and decline it.)
Select Submit.
Note: Once you've made your funding decision, this page no longer appears here. However, Your Funding Decision remains on your Home page until your decision period ends.
3. Select Prepare to Shop if you'd like to shop without making your funding decision.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
The Comprehensive Health Care for You and Your Family page has educational content regarding optional Protection plans. It explains the different types of plans and what they do. Examples are also provided in brochures you can view and download.
To learn more or to enroll in Protection plans, follow these steps:
1. Review the Protection Plan Types (accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity) and determine the policies that might be right for you. You can download brochures or schedule a call to learn more.
Premium costs, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and other health care costs have increased over the last several years and are expected to continue to rise. Protection plans reduce rising cost exposure and unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses.
2. In the Explore and Enroll section, read the pamphlets (PDFs) provided to learn more about your options.
3. Select Shop when you are ready to continue your health care enrollment.
*Our licensed benefit advisors specialize in health insurance for retirees. They go through annual training and certification to ensure they can help you make an informed and confident decision.