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Special Enrollment Period

Big life changes? You may be able to enroll in a health plan.

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QUALIFYING LIFE EVENTS

You don't always need to wait for open enrollment to sign up for health insurance. Certain major life events make you eligible to update or add coverage under a Special Enrollment Period.

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Enrollment times

There are two times you can enroll for health insurance:

  1. During the Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
  2. During a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

When is open enrollment?

During open enrollment, you can enroll in a health insurance plan.

  • OEP typically runs from Nov. 1 of one year to Jan. 15 of the following year.
  • Outside of this period, you can only enroll under specific circumstances.

What happens if I miss open enrollment?

If you miss open enrollment, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you have a qualifying life event (QLE) such as a marriage, move or adoption of a child. To enroll, you have 2 deadlines you must meet:

  • 30 days to document the change
  • 60 days to enroll

Be sure to move quickly and shop now.

Changes that are qualifying life events

Here are some common life changes that make you eligible to enroll. Questions? Call us. We're here to help.

Household size

  • Got married
  • Had a baby or adopted a child
  • Gained/became a dependent
  • Got divorced or legally separated

Changing your residence

  • Moving to a different zip code or county
  • Moving to or from school for a student
  • Moving to or from a seasonal work location

Losing health coverage

  • Losing existing health coverage
  • Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent's plan
  • Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP

Status changes

  • Gaining citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.
  • Leaving incarceration (jail or prison)

More qualifiers

  • Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder
  • Starting or ending service as an AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA or NCCC member

HRA or QSEHRA

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household newly gained access to an individual coverage HRA or a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) in the past 60 days or expect to in the next 60 days.

Note: Your employer may refer to an individual coverage HRA by a different name, like the acronym "ICHRA."

This is not a complete list of QLEs. Contact us if you have questions.

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