What is Open Enrollment? Open enrollment for individual / family health insurance is a set time period each year when anyone can purchase or change health insurance, for any reason. Outside the dates of open enrollment, you must have a qualifying event in order to purchase or change health plans. When is Open Enrollment? The dates of open enrollment are set by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and
Buying 2016 Health Insurance Outside of Open Enrollment
Health Insurance open enrollment for 2016 closed on January 31, 2016. Outside of Open Enrollment, you must have a qualifying event in order to purchase Affordable Care Act-compliant coverage which is effective in 2016. Examples of Qualifying Events for Health Insurance Change in marital status (marriage/divorce/death of a spouse) Relocation to a new state Change in family size (birth/adoption/death of a child) Loss of minimum essential health coverage (change in
What is a Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance?
A special enrollment period (SEP) is a time outside of open enrollment* during which you can purchase a new health insurance policy. *Open enrollment for health insurance is a time each year when anyone can purchase or change a health insurance policy for any reason. For 2022 plans, open enrollment was November 1, 2021 – January 15, 2022. 2023 open enrollment will run from November 1, 2022 – January 15,
What is a Qualifying Event and What Should I Do if I Have One?
When it comes to health insurance, a qualifying event is a life event that makes you eligible to purchase health insurance outside the dates of open enrollment. A qualifying event triggers a special enrollment period lasting 30-60 days, depending on the event. Read more about special enrollment periods. Qualifying Events Change in marital status (marriage/divorce/death of a spouse) Relocation to a new state or to an area of your current
Congrats Graduates!
Graduations mark a transition into the “real world” for many young adults. And part of being in the “real world” is having health insurance! If you are entering the working world, you may be eligible for health insurance through your employer. But if you don’t get a job right away, you still need health insurance (it’s the law!) and you have a few options: 1 – Remain on Your Parent’s
Buying 2015 Health Insurance Outside of Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for 2015 health insurance has ended. It ran from November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015. Outside those dates, you must have a qualifying event in order to be eligible to purchase Affordable Care Act-compliant coverage which is effective in 2015. NOTE: Anthem has extended its deadline to purchase off-exchange 2015 coverage until February 28. Click here for more info. Examples of Qualifying Events Change in marital status
Buying Health Insurance Effective January 1 2015 – What You Need to Know
Can I Still Get Health Insurance Effective January 1, 2015? The answer is maybe. Although the deadline has passed for most people to secure 1/1 coverage, an exception is made when a qualifying event triggers a special enrollment period. One such qualifying event is the loss of minimum essential coverage. If your current 2014 policy is a pre-Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plan (one which was in force and you renewed
What Happens to My Health Insurance if I Move to a New State?
If you purchased a health insurance policy under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) while living in one state and subsequently move to another state, you will need to cancel coverage in your old state and purchase a plan in your new state. The good news is you don’t have to worry about purchasing your new coverage during open enrollment dates. That’s because moving to a new state is a qualifying
What is a Qualifying Event and What Should I Do if I Have One?
Note: this post was originally published on May 12, 2014 but has been updated for 2015. What appears here is the updated information, as of March 2015. When it comes to health insurance, a qualifying event is a life event that makes you eligible to purchase health insurance outside the dates of open enrollment. A qualifying event triggers a special enrollment period lasting 30-60 days, depending on the event. Read
Buying Health Insurance After March 31 During a Special Enrollment Period
March 31 has come and gone. And with it has come the end of open enrollment for 2014 health insurance plans. Unless you had already begun an application on or before that date through healthcare.gov (the federal health insurance exchange used by Virginia residents), March 31 was the last day you could purchase non-group health insurance coverage during 2014 open enrollment. However, there may still be an opportunity to purchase
