Here’s how to get covered through Pennie with the healthcare open enrollment deadline on Friday

Pennsylvania’s healthcare marketplace, Pennie, witnessed a record amount of enrollments for 2024. Their deadline for residents to obtain healthcare coverage for 2024 has been extended to this Friday, Jan. 19.

Pennsylvania residents who don’t have health insurance will have until this Friday, Jan. 19, to enroll in healthcare coverage through Pennie, the commonwealth’s official state-based health insurance marketplace made available through the Affordable Care Act. 

The open enrollment period through Pennie typically ends on Jan. 15, but that was extended through the rest of this week due to the Martin Luther King holiday. 

“We have seen a record number of Pennsylvanians enrolling through Pennie,” said Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley in a statement last week. 

“Don’t miss out – visit pennie.com before Jan. 19 to obtain the peace of mind and protection that comes with having quality health insurance. If you wait until you need medical care, it will be too late. Enrolling in coverage now is the best way to protect your health and your savings in 2024,” Trolley added.

If you need coverage but miss the Jan. 19 deadline, you will have to wait until November to enroll unless there is a qualifying life event like moving or losing your health coverage. 

Healthcare coverage through the exchange is based on income and individuals making less will pay less, and may be eligible to pay as little as $1 a month for coverage. 

Last month, Pennie announced that 405,000 Pennsylvanians, a record number, enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace, and according to the organization, 9 in 10 enrollees qualify to save more than $500 a month on average. 

“Start the new year by giving yourself the gift of affordable, available health coverage,” State Sen. Sharif Street said in a statement.

“There are too many who remain uninsured especially in the post-pandemic era where elevated rates of diabetes, hypertension and more, make COVID more acute for black and brown communities. I’m proud to partner with Pennie and the Beckett Life Center to let folks know that the final deadline for health coverage in 2024 – Jan. 19th – is quickly approaching.”