Starting Nov. 1 Kentuckians can apply, enroll in benefits through the Kentucky marketplace at kynect.ky.gov
Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday kynect, the state-based health insurance exchange, will reopen Nov. 1, 2021, to provide Kentuckians access to health coverage and other benefits.
The move, approved recently by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), allows Kentuckians to access and compare state-managed health care options, apply for coverage and complete their enrollment all on one convenient platform at kynect.ky.gov.
“Quality health care is a basic human right – and never has that need been more evident than during the COVID-19 global health pandemic,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky’s economy has caught fire, and we’ve just landed the largest economic investment in the state’s history, but we can’t succeed in building a better Kentucky if our people are not healthy and ready to work. kynect was a lifesaver for so many when it was first offered in 2013, and we’re excited to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring it back and make sure all Kentuckians can easily access the health plans and benefits they deserve.”
Key Dates
Beginning Oct. 15, 2021, at kynect.ky.gov, Kentuckians will be able to browse plans and explore benefits that take effect Jan. 1, 2022. Enrollment for 2022 begins Nov. 1, 2021, and closes Jan. 15, 2022.
Coverage
The commonwealth will receive $650,000 in American Rescue Plan Act grant funding from CMS to support the reopening of kynect. Kentuckians will once again have access to all the benefits of the original state-based kynect, launched in 2013, including the ability to determine eligibility for Medicaid or a subsidy to help offset their out-of-pocket premium costs.
In addition to Anthem’s statewide coverage and CareSource, which offers plans in 100 counties, consumers can shop for plans available in select counties from two new health insurers; Ambetter from WellCare of Kentucky and Passport Health Plan by Molina.
Also new in January 2022, Kentuckians will be able to purchase a vision plan through kynect. VSP Individual Vision Plans will offer enrollees a comprehensive eye exam from an in-network doctor, an eye frame allowance and lens enhancements, such as progressives.
kynect Relaunch
In October 2020, Gov. Beshear launched a reimagined kynect website that readied the commonwealth to move back to a state-based marketplace. In addition to the new medical benefits, kynect provides Kentuckians with information about other types of income or need-based assistance and benefits, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, and the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program
Since October 2020, the kynect portal has been logged into more than 2.3 million times by more than 1.8 million visitors. Nearly 105,000 applications for benefits have been submitted, and nearly 1 million supporting documents have been uploaded.