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North Dakota Health Insurance Consumer Guide
We’ve compiled this guide and the FAQs below to help you choose the right health insurance plan for you and your family. An ACA Marketplace (exchange) plan is a good option for people in North Dakota who don’t have access to Medicare, Medicaid, or an employer-sponsored plan and thus need to buy their own individual or family health coverage.
In North Dakota, you can sign up for ACA Marketplace coverage through HealthCare.gov, as North Dakota uses the federally run Marketplace. Three private insurance companies offer 2024 coverage through the North Dakota health insurance Marketplace, and residents in most counties can choose from among all three insurers’ plans.1
Depending on your income and other circumstances, you may also get help to lower your monthly insurance premium (the amount you pay to enroll in the coverage) and possibly your out-of-pocket expenses.
Explore our comprehensive guides to coverage in North Dakota
Dental coverage in North Dakota
Looking to improve your smile? Dental insurance may be a smart addition to your health coverage. Our guide explores dental coverage options in North Dakota.
North Dakota’s Medicaid program
As of January 2014, North Dakota opted to expand Medicaid under the ACA.2 By April 2023, Medicaid and CHIP enrollment in North Dakota stood at more than 134,000 people.3 Medicaid disenrollments resumed in May 2023 in North Dakota, after being paused for three years due to the pandemic.4
Medicare enrollment in North Dakota
As of early 2023, nearly 143,000 North Dakotans were enrolled in Medicare coverage.5 Our guide explains everything you need to know about Medicare and Medigap plans in North Dakota.
Short-term coverage in North Dakota
At least three insurers currently market short-term health insurance in North Dakota.6
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in North Dakota
Who can buy Marketplace health insurance?
To enroll in private health coverage through the Marketplace in North Dakota, you must:7
- Be a North Dakota resident
- Be either a United States citizen or national, or be lawfully present
- Not be incarcerated
- Not have Medicare coverage8
Eligibility for financial assistance (premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions) depends on your household income. In addition, to qualify for financial assistance with your North Dakota Marketplace plan you must:
- Not have access to affordable health coverage offered by an employer. If your employer offers coverage but you feel it’s too expensive, you can use our Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator to see if you might qualify for premium subsidies in the Marketplace.
- Not be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
- Not be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.9
When can I enroll in an ACA-compliant plan in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, you can sign up for an ACA-compliant individual or family health plan from November 1 to January 15 during open enrollment.10 (For 2024 coverage, HealthCare.gov’s deadline has been extended to January 16, 2024, due to the federal holiday on the 15th).11
If you need your coverage to start on January 1, you must apply by December 15. If you apply between December 16 and January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1.7
Outside of the open enrollment window, you may be eligible to enroll if you meet the following requirements:
- You experience a qualifying life event, such as giving birth or losing other health coverage. If you already had prior coverage, you can enroll in a new plan due to certain qualifying life events such as marriage or moving to an area where different health plans are available.
- You belong to a federally recognized American Indian tribe.
- You’re eligible for subsidies in the Marketplace and your income doesn’t exceed 150% of the poverty level. This ongoing enrollment opportunity will continue at least through the end of 2025.12
In addition, enrollment in Medicaid/CHIP is available year-round, so if you’re eligible for North Dakota Medicaid or CHIP, you can enroll anytime.
How do I enroll in a Marketplace plan in North Dakota?
To enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan in North Dakota, you can:
- Visit HealthCare.gov, which is North Dakota’s health insurance Marketplace. HealthCare.gov provides an online platform to shop, compare, and buy health plans.
- Purchase individual and family health coverage with the help of an insurance agent or broker, a Navigator, or a certified application counselor.
- Enroll via an approved enhanced direct enrollment (EDE) entity.13 (EDEs can also facilitate enrollment in off-exchange plans and sometimes non-ACA-compliant plans. So be sure to specify that you’re looking for a Marketplace/exchange plan, as that’s the only way you can take advantage of the available financial assistance.)
You can also call HealthCare.gov’s contact center by dialing 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). The call center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it’s closed on holidays.
How can I find affordable health insurance in North Dakota?
You may find affordable health insurance options in North Dakota by signing up through HealthCare.gov – especially if you’re eligible for subsidies.
Under the Affordable Care Act, there are income-based subsidies – a type of financial assistance – called Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC). APTCs can help lower your premium payments each month.14
As of 2023, more than 90% of North Dakota Marketplace enrollees were receiving premium subsidies that saved them an average of $436/month. After subsidies were applied, the average enrollee’s monthly cost was about $96/month.15
For people who do not qualify for premium subsidies, North Dakota’s reinsurance program, which took effect in 2020, serves to keep full-price premiums lower than they would otherwise be.16
If your household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level, you may also qualify for cost-sharing reductions (CSR). These reductions can lower your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses as long as you select a Silver-level plan. As of 2023, 24% of North Dakota Marketplace enrollees were receiving CSR benefits.17
If it looks like you’re eligible for Medicaid based on the income you report to the Marketplace, they will refer you to North Dakota Medicaid Services.
Combining APTCs and CSRs might make an ACA plan the most budget-friendly health insurance choice for you.
Depending on your income and circumstances, you may find that you’re eligible for free or low cost health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. Check to see if you meet the criteria for Medicaid in North Dakota.
Source: CMS.gov15
How many insurers offer Marketplace coverage in North Dakota?
Are Marketplace health insurance premiums increasing in North Dakota?
North Dakota’s Marketplace insurers implemented the following average rate increases for 2024:19
North Dakota’s ACA Marketplace Plan 2024 Proposed Rate Increases by Insurance Company |
|
---|---|
Issuer | Percent Increase |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota | 3% |
Medica Health Plans | 1.38% |
Sanford Health Plan | 3.14% |
Source: North Dakota Insurance Department19
The overall average rate change for 2024, before any subsidies were applied, amounted to an increase of 3%:20
But more than nine out of ten North Dakota Marketplace enrollees receive subsidies,17 and their net premium changes depend on how subsidies change as well as how the rates for their plan change and whether they pick a different plan during open enrollment.
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, increased the size of premium subsidies and made the subsidies more widely available.21 Fortunately for exchange enrollees, those subsidy enhancements have been extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act.
For perspective, here’s an overview of how full-price premiums have changed in North Dakota’s individual/family market over the years:
- 2015: Average increase of 7%.22
- 2016: Average increase of 12%.23
- 2017: Average increase of 1.3%.24
- 2018: Average increase of 23%.25 (ND did not let insurers add the cost of CSR to 2018 premiums)
- 2019: Average increase of 3.2%.26
- 2020: Average decrease of 5.8%.27 (reinsurance took effect)16
- 2021: Average increase of 3%.28
- 2022: Average increase of 1.25%. 29
- 2023: Average increase of 4.4%.30
How many people are insured through North Dakota’s Marketplace?
In the open enrollment period for 2023 coverage, 34,130 people signed up for private plans through the North Dakota Marketplace.21
This was a record-high enrollment, on the heels of another record high in 2022 (see chart below for year-by-year enrollment totals). The enrollment growth was due in large part to the subsidy enhancements created by the American Rescue Plan. Premium subsidies are larger and more widely available than they used to be, and these subsidy enhancements have been extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Source: 2014,31 2015,32 2016,33 2017,34 2018,35 2019,36 2020,37 2021,38 2022,39 202321
As of early 2023, there were 32,970 people with effectuated coverage through the North Dakota Marketplace.17
Effectuated enrollment numbers are always a little lower than the number of people who sign up during open enrollment, because some enrollees never pay their first premium to effectuate their coverage, and others choose to cancel their coverage instead of keeping it for the full year.
What health insurance resources are available to North Dakota residents?
HealthCare.gov: The Marketplace in North Dakota, where residents can enroll in individual/family health coverage and receive income-based subsidies. You can reach HealthCare.gov at 800-318-2596.
North Dakota Department of Human Services: The North Dakota Department of Human Services administers Medicaid and CHIP, as well as other social services programs. You can reach them at 701-328-2310 (For TTY, use relay North Dakota at 711 or 1-800-366-6888).
North Dakota Insurance Department: Regulates the insurance industry in North Dakota, and provides assistance to consumers and businesses with insurance-related questions and concerns.
North Dakota State Health Insurance Counseling Program: A local service for Medicare beneficiaries, which can provide information and assistance with questions related to Medicare eligibility, enrollment, and claims.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org.
Footnotes
- Plan Year 2024 Qualified Health Plan Choice and Premiums in HealthCare.gov Marketplaces. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. October 25, 2023. ⤶ ⤶
- “North Dakota Medicaid Expansion Quality Strategy Plan” ND.gov, Jan. 1, 2023 ⤶
- “April 2023 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights” Medicaid.gov ⤶
- “Medicaid Renewals Dashboard” North Dakota Health & Human Services, 2023 ⤶
- “Medicare Monthly Enrollment” CMS.gov, April 2023 ⤶
- “Availability of short-term health insurance in North Dakota” healthinsurance.org, Aug. 14, 2023 ⤶
- “A quick guide to the Health Insurance Marketplace®” HealthCare.gov, Accessed August, 2023 ⤶ ⤶
- Medicare and the Marketplace, Master FAQ. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed November 2023. ⤶
- Medicare and the Marketplace, Master FAQ. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed November 2023. ⤶
- “When can you get health insurance?” HealthCare.gov, 2023 ⤶
- Biden-Harris Administration Launches Window-Shopping Ahead of 11th ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. October 2023. ⤶
- “An SEP if your income doesn’t exceed 150% of the federal poverty level” healthinsurance.org. Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- “Entities Approved to Use Enhanced Direct Enrollment” CMS.gov, April 28, 2023 ⤶
- “APTC and CSR Basics” CMS.gov, June 2023 ⤶
- “2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, Accessed August 2023 ⤶ ⤶
- North Dakota: State Innovation Waiver under section 1332 of the PPACA. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. July 2019. ⤶ ⤶
- “Effectuated Enrollment: Early 2023 Snapshot and Full Year 2022 Average” CMS.gov, March 15, 2023 ⤶ ⤶ ⤶
- “North Dakota Rate Review Submissions” HealthCare.gov, Accessed August 2023 ⤶
- Godfread announces rates for 2024 ACA plans. North Dakota Insurance Department. October 2023. ⤶ ⤶
- North Dakota: *Final* Avg. Unsubsidized 2024 #ACA Rate Changes: +3.0% (Corrected). ACA Signups. October 2023. ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2023 Open Enrollment Report” CMS.gov, 2023 ⤶ ⤶ ⤶
- Analysis Finds No Nationwide Increase in Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums. The Commonwealth Fund. December 2014. ⤶
- Private Health Insurance Market Report, 2014-2018. North Dakota Insurance Department. Accessed December 2023. ⤶
- Avg. UNSUBSIDIZED Indy Mkt Rate Hikes: 25% (49 States + DC). ACA Signups. October 2016. ⤶
- 2018 Rate Hikes: North Dakota. ACA Signups. August 2017. ⤶
- North Dakota: APPROVED 2019 #ACA Rates: 3.2% Increase…But Likely Would’ve DROPPED Nearly 20% W/Out #ACASabotage. ACA Signups. September 2018. ⤶
- 2020 Rate Changes. ACA Signups. October 2019. ⤶
- 2021 Rate Changes. ACA Signups. October 2020. ⤶
- 2022 Rate Changes. ACA Signups. October 2021. ⤶
- North Dakota: Approved Avg. 2023 #ACA Rate Changes: +4.4%. ACA Signups. August 2022. ⤶
- “ASPE Issue Brief (2014)” ASPE, 2015 ⤶
- “Health Insurance Marketplaces 2015 Open Enrollment Period: March Enrollment Report”, HHS.gov, 2015 ⤶
- “HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES 2016 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD: FINAL ENROLLMENT REPORT” HHS.gov, 2016 ⤶
- “2017 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2017 ⤶
- “2018 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2018 ⤶
- “2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2019 ⤶
- “2020 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2020 ⤶
- “2021 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2021 ⤶
- “2022 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files” CMS.gov, 2022 ⤶