If you are under the age of sixty-five, you need private health insurance to assist in lowering the cost of various health expenses. Every year, there is a forty-five-day period (November 1-December 15) called the Open Enrollment period in which people can purchase health insurance that would take effect on January 1st of the following year. However, outside of that period, there are those who face significant life-changing events that cause them to change their health insurance or have an opportunity to enroll in health insurance.
Certain life changes allow a period of 60 days (this is a special enrollment period) for people to either change a policy or enroll in a completely new plan. If you miss that 60-day window, you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period to apply.
The following life events give you a special enrollment period:
- Changes in household such as getting married, divorced or having a baby.
- Changes in residence such as changing ZIP codes or moving from a foreign country.
- Loss of health insurance due to leaving a job or eligibility change
- Other life circumstances such as leaving incarceration or becoming a US citizen.
If you have questions or are confused about what you will be liable for, book a meeting with a licensed agent. The goal is to lower your potential cost as low as possible while still receiving great medical care when you need it and giving you peace of mind.
