Help! I Need Health Insurance.

While we enrolled most of our clients on Healthcare.gov during the annual Open Enrollment period (November 1st-December 15), we continue to enroll new clients on a year-round basis on the individual marketplace, www.Healthcare.gov. The criteria for enrollment outside Open Enrollment, however, does require an individual qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (“SEP”).

A SEP is created through a life change, which may include “losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child” (Healthcare.gov/glossary/special-enrollment-period/). Usually, there is a 60-day window following a life change event to enroll in a plan. If you miss that window, you must wait until the next Open Enrollment Period (November 1-Dec 15 for a January 1st plan the following year).

Other than those life changes listed above, there are additional life changes that could create a SEP:
• Turning 26
• Becoming pregnant
• Change in disability status, tax filing status, immigration status/citizenship
• Incarceration/release from incarceration
• Someone in your household losing coverage or becoming eligible for Medicaid
• Someone in your household getting an offer of job-based insurance

*There are other opportunities for SEPs not listed here.

Should you need insurance anytime the most important advice we can give you, is to call us immediately to go over options because some options available today may not be available tomorrow if you miss the SEP window of opportunity.