Life doesn’t always line up neatly with the health insurance enrollment calendar. A move, a marriage, or the arrival of a child can all change your insurance needs in a hurry. These major life events, as well as many others, may open a Special Enrollment Period, giving you a limited window to enroll in or change health insurance.
What is a Special Enrollment Period?
A Special Enrollment Period, often called an SEP, is a set amount of time during which you may be able to sign up for health coverage or make changes to your plan. For many Marketplace situations, this window is generally 60 days from the event, although some cases also allow action before a known loss of coverage. Rules can vary depending on the type of coverage and the reason for the change.
Some Qualifying Life Changes
- Loss of health coverage: Losing job-based insurance, aging off a parent’s plan, changes in Medicaid eligibility, or losing other qualifying coverage.
- Household changes: Getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, placing a child in foster care, or divorcing and losing coverage.
- Moving: A move to a new ZIP code, county, or state.
- Turning 65 and retirement: Aging into Medicare or transitioning into retirement.
- Changes affecting Marketplace eligibility: Certain income or household changes.
- Other special circumstances: Errors, emergencies, or other exceptional situations.
Boichot Insurance can help guide you through any Special Enrollment Period. We can help determine which documents you may need in order to act quickly so you do not miss important deadlines. We review your specific health care needs, make sure your current doctors and specialists are in network whenever possible, and check that your prescriptions are covered at the most affordable level available. We help you compare plan options side by side so you can better understand your benefits, monthly premiums, deductibles, and overall out-of-pocket costs. Most importantly, our assistance does not end at sign-up. When Teresa Schissler-Boichot started her agency over eight years ago, her guiding principle was to not only sell insurance but to show up for her clients when they needed her most, and it is that principle that guides all her agents today.
(Submittted by Teresa Boichot)
Major life changes can be stressful, but your health coverage does not have to be. If your situation has changed or you just have questions about your coverage, schedule a free consultation by calling (616) 258-9182 or emailing info@boichotinsurance.com.
