Monroe County residents will have more plans to choose from when they log on to the health insurance marketplace this year.
That's despite having fewer insurers offering coverage in south-central Indiana. Monroe County residents who signed up for coverage through the website had six insurers to choose from last year, but this time around Assurant isn't offering any plans locally.
People in Monroe County still have 51 plans to choose from.
"I think if you compare this year to the first year of the marketplace we're in much better shape in south-central Indiana," says Tom Gruenenfelder, volunteer coordinator for Cover Monroe. "The first year we had just two insurers and their networks were not very robust. With the competition we're at least seeing a better network."
Open enrollment continues through Jan. 31.
The penalty for being uninsured in 2016 increases to $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of a household's income – whichever number is greater.
"Yes, it's required by law now to have health insurance," Gruenenfelder says. "But more important, if you come down with cancer next year – and God forbid that you do that – if you are uninsured you will be in debt for the remainder of your life. And you just don't want to have to deal with that."