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
What are Key Dates for 2016 Health Insurance?
If you purchase health insurance for yourself or your family (vs. getting coverage through your employer), it is time to think about your 2016 coverage. Here are some dates to keep in mind: November 1, 2015. The start of Open Enrollment for 2016 health insurance. Open Enrollment is the time when you can apply for new health insurance coverage, or, if you already have coverage, you can pick a new
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
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
What is the Definition of a Tax Household for Health Insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), eligibility for a premium tax credit (also called a subsidy) is based on the income earned by members of your household. Click here to access a chart showing income levels for subsidy eligibility. Who Counts as Part of Your Tax Household? In general your tax household includes anyone for whom you claim a personal exemption on your federal tax return: Yourself Your spouse Your
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
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
