Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Special Enrollment Period

Open Enrollment for 2020 ended December 17, 2019.

You can still enroll in an ACA plan as long as you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).  Here are a few examples:

  • Getting married
  • Having a baby, adopting a child or placing a child for adoption or foster care
  • Losing other health coverage
  • Gaining citizenship or lawful presence in the US

If you’re not eligible for the special enrollment period, consider enrolling in a short term plan.  Short term plans do not provide minimum essential benefits required by the Affordable Care Act, but many of my clients use this option if they missed open enrollment or if they only need it as a stop gap before their employer coverage begins.  Coverage can begin within 48 hours and there are a number of plans to choose from including ones with copayments to see primary physicians.