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HSRI Open Enrollment Pushed Thru Feb. 28

Rhode Island's health care, HSRI Open Enrollment deadline to sign up for coverage and avoid tax penalties, is Feb.28.
Rhode Island's health care, HSRI open enrollment deadline to sign up for coverage and avoid tax penalties, is Feb.28.
Rhode Island’s health care, HSRI open enrollment deadline to sign up for coverage and avoid tax penalties, is Feb.28.

PROVIDENCE, RI –  The RIBridges system compromised by cyber theft of personal data for anyone receiving or applying for RI health coverage & benefits isn’t available for health plan renewals, so HSRI open enrollment is extended through Feb. 28.

HealthSource RI will also  allow customers with an urgent need for Jan. 1 coverage to enroll directly for January and February coverage with HSRI’s longtime insurance carriers, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

When RI Bridges is available to HSRI customers again, the state exchange will send them information about how to apply for coverage for the remainder of the year through HSRI, the organization announced today. This will ensure customers are connected with federal financial assistance in the form of advance premium tax credits for the remainder of the year.

Aside from these paths for those not yet enrolled, here’s what certain groups of HSRI customers in various stages of the enrollment process should know and can do to keep their coverage:

  • Coverage will be active for customers whose plan selections for 2025 were already made (through automatic renewal or by taking action to select a plan) and who have either already made a payment or set up auto-payment. They do not need to take any action.
  • Customers in 2024 plans who previously received notice that they were not automatically renewed but needed to take action to select a 2025 plan will be held in the same plans with the same insurance carriers they had been with in 2024. Once RIBridges is restored, they will need to make their plan selection. Such changes may be allowed retroactively to January 1 if needed.
  • Customers who were automatically renewed but not enrolled in auto-payments, or have not made a manual payment, simply need to pay their premium. This guidance is the same for customers who selected a plan by Thursday, December 12 but had not yet paid. Payments should be made by December 31 for January 1 coverage, but payment flexibility is available. They can do so:
  • in person by bringing their barcoded invoice to any CVS except those in Target locations.
  • in person by depositing a check or money order in a 24/7 drop-box at the HealthSource RI East Providence walk-in center, 401 Wampanoag Trail.
  • by phone through our call center at 1-855-840-4774.

The RIBridges system, managed by Deloitte, remains unavailable following a Dec. 5  breach of personal data of an as-yet  unknown number of people who have applied for RI health coverage or health & human services programs or benefits. Both RI Attorney General Peter Neronha and Gov. Dan McKee have announced steps affected Rhode Islanders can, and should, take to safeguard their finances and identities.

HSRI Open Enrollment , Call Center Hours Extended

In addition to  the HSRI open enrollment extension, HSRI’s call center is offering extended hours leading into the new year to accommodate those who may still need to choose a plan, make a payment, or otherwise inquire about the status of their account. The call center, at 1-855-840-4774, will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31. Hours will resume on January 2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays with expanded Open Enrollment hours Tuesdays from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. Call center hours may be further expanded to accommodate for demand.

 The call center is ready to assist individuals who still need to choose a plan for 2025 coverage. While the RIBridges system is unavailable, HSRI is offering direct enrollment through Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, with a temporary no-cost option for select plans for the months of January and February.

 Customers can call HSRI and walk through the cost calculator process to walk through what they might qualify for later through HSRI. Representatives will help explore carrier options, then can help customers to start enrollment themselves through the insurer’s website or transfer them to an insurer representative with further questions. Customers choosing this option will need to re-enroll through HSRI once the system is available again, in order to connect with federal financial assistance in the form of premium tax credits for March and beyond.

 For those whose needs are not as urgent and who would prefer to wait for the restoration of the HSRI system to select the plan of their choice, Open Enrollment has been extended through February 28, and coverage can be made retroactive to Jan. 1 at any point.

 Details on the HSRI  Open Enrollment extension and other options are available at https://healthsourceri.com/covered2025. 

Additional reading:

RIBridges Cyberattack Dec. 5: AG Lists Protective Steps

RIBridges Cyberattack Hotline Established

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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