Any advice on health insurers?

[progree]

5. They also require I pay the first month's premium by March 31, and can't pay online

[font color = blue] >> If you enroll by March 31st, you avoid the penalty for not having insurance. Even if you don't enroll, you can still avoid the penalty. The law was recently changed to say you can avoid the penalty if "You experienced another hardship in obtaining health insurance." That is so wide, that anything could allow you to be exempt. I'm sure everybody could find at least one hardship if they don't want to pay the penalty) ... << [/font]

As for paying online, MNSure, Minnesota's health exchange says,

To pay online, consumers using MNsure.org must complete all application, plan selection and payment steps in one sitting. This eliminates the need to return to the website to complete enrollment. MNsure strongly recommends this method in order to ensure coverage begins when intended by the consumer.

Well, too late. No way I can do all that in one sitting, and anyway have already done the application without selecting a plan and doing the payment thing, so that option is foreclosed.

So my other option is to be invoiced by the insurance company... I have to sign up on the MNSure exchange to qualify for the subsidy, then I have to trust that they get that information to the insurance co. in time, and that the insurance co. acts in time to "invoice me" (snail mail?) ... anyway it might be a tight fit since I have a lot of work to do before selecting a plan (it is the biggest expenditure of my life other than my house and car).

As for hardship in enrolling for insurance, I'm not sure the IRS will accept just any explanation, and I don't want to lie and face penalties for perjury. I've dealt with them, and usually procrastination and I stubbed my toe are usually not the things they accept for getting something done late.


[font color = blue] >> I don't know anything about those insurers, but if you have a doctor, or know who you want to be your doctor, find out who they accept first. << [/font]

I don't like my doctor, and don't have another one in mind, so that specifically isn't a factor. But yes, I do want the primary clinic I go to to be reasonably nearby, as well as a network hospital being nearby. So what is in the network is a priority. Thanks.