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Do you still need insurance coverage for 2021?
If you have not yet bought medical insurance this year but want one right away, you still have options. Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) does not require everyone to have health insurance anymore.
Still, going without health coverage could put you at peril for unforeseen medical bills, and you certainly do not want that.
I Need Insurance Now!
Depending on where you reside, you can access your state’s insurance marketplace through a website run by either the state or federal government. Healthcare.gov is the best place to start looking, as it will take you to the marketplace in your state pretty effortlessly.
You will need to answer a few basic questions about your income, the size of your family, and your current residence. Then, the marketplace site will suggest various health plan options (both public and private) for which you are eligible. Beware of enrollment deadlines or important documents you may be required to provide to verify your eligibility.
Did You Miss Open Enrollment For 2021?
If you missed open enrollment 2021, you can still get health insurance. Open enrollment for 2021 ended in mid-December last year in several states. If you missed that date, you may wonder how to get health insurance after open enrollment has ended.
The good news is that you can still qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP). With a SEP you can qualify to get health coverage outside the usual enrollment period. To meet the requirements for a SEP, you ought to have experienced certain qualifying events in your life. A SEP typically lasts 60 days from the time of a qualifying change or event. Here are some examples of qualifying events:
Losing Health Insurance
If you lose existing health insurance, including one provided by your employer, a student health plan, or a health coverage you purchased yourself, you qualify for COBRA health insurance as well as a SEP. Also, you qualify for a SEP if you’ve lost eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare.
As well, if you have just turned 26 and cannot be on your parent’s health coverage anymore, or you are not a dependent anymore on your parent or guardian’s health plan, you qualify for a SEP. The same case applies if you have lost coverage through your spouse following legal separation or divorce.
Household changes
You meet the requirements for a SEP if you have changes in your home that can include getting married or divorced or having or adopting a baby. Likewise, if you lose a family member and as a result, you fail to qualify for your current health coverage anymore you will be eligible for a SEP.
Relocation
If you move to a new residence within the country or have just relocated to the United States from a foreign country, you qualify for a SEP. Also, if you are a seasonal wage earner moving to or from the location you both work and live, or if you are a student relocating to or from the place you go to school, you will be eligible for a SEP.
When Is Open Enrollment For 2021?
You may be wondering when is the next open enrollment for health insurance. Insurance companies usually decide when to begin their open enrollment periods, and they communicate that information to their clients.
Even so, open enrollment usually occurs over several weeks during fall, between October and December each year. Therefore, the next enrollment period for health insurance is expected to start during this year’s fall.
How Can I Get Health Insurance Now?
Even if you’re reading this outside of the open enrollment period, if you’re looking for health insurance, there’s no better place to call than HealthPlanOptionsToday. Their team of experts is trained to listen to your individual situation, then work with you to help you find the best health plan available.
Click the button below and we’ll reach out to you, or call our hotline directly at 855-218-3447 to speak with our team immediately.
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