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 Are Key Dates for 2015 Health Insurance?
If you purchase health insurance for yourself or your family (vs. getting coverage through your employer), it will soon be time to begin thinking about your 2015 coverage. Here are some dates to keep in mind: November 15, 2014. The start of Open Enrollment for 2015 health insurance. Open Enrollment is the time when you can apply for new health insurance coverage, or, if you already have coverage, you can
How Long is My Health Insurance Coverage Effective?
In general, health insurance policies are effective for 12 months, and the period during which coverage is provided is called the plan’s benefit year. For individual health insurance policies — whether purchased on or off the exchange — the benefit year runs on a calendar basis, from January 1 – December 31. However, not all policies will be effective for the full 12 months. This is because the start date
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
Short-Term Health Insurance
Now that the window of opportunity to purchase 2014 Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant health insurance has closed, many people are wondering how they can be protected in the event of an illness or injury this year. In most cases, if you did not purchase a 2014 policy before the March 31 deadline, your option for the remainder of 2014 is to purchase what’s known as short-term insurance. (*See notes below
Important Deadlines for Health Insurance
Last Date to Purchase Health Insurance for 2014 Do you know the last day you can purchase health insurance for 2014 and avoid a penalty under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? The answer is March 31, 2014* *A qualifying event like a change in marital or employment status, birth or adoption of a child, etc. will allow you to obtain 2014 coverage outside of the open enrollment period which ends