Do you need health insurance from the health insurance marketplace but aren’t sure what you need to do?
Are you worried you might miss the health insurance market place open enrollment deadline?
Have you missed the deadline and need to know what’s next?
It’s the end of the year, and everyone knows what that means – the health insurance market place deadline is looming.
Or maybe you’ve missed the open enrollment deadline and are trying to figure out how you can still get health insurance.
Either way, you’ve come to the right place. Fiorella Insurance can help you.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the health insurance market place deadline and special enrollment opportunities.
A Fiorella Insurance Agent can help you choose insurance that’s right for you.
Health Insurance Market Place Deadline: Open Enrollment
If you want health insurance coverage that begins on January 1, 2022, you’ll need to apply through the health insurance market place by the open
enrollment deadline – December 15, 2021.
Open enrollment begins on November 1, 2021, and until January 15, 2022, you will be able to use the health insurance market place
to:
- Fill out an application: You’ll be asked to provide personal and household information, as well as answer a few questions about your employment and
income. You must provide income information to qualify for premium tax credits. - Submit documentation: While a lot, if not most, information can be verified through the health care market place portal, some information may need to be provided. That can range from income verification to citizenship status verification. You can submit documents online.
- Choose healthcare plans: Once you’ve filled out your application and submitted any required documents, you’ll be able to review the available plans and prices in your area. The health insurance market place portal lets you compare coverage options, as well.
If you qualify for premium tax credits, you’ll be able to apply those to your premiums through the market place portal. This can help offset the cost of your monthly premiums.
But what if you miss the open enrollment deadline? Or maybe you had insurance, and now you don’t. What do you do?
A Fiorella Insurance Agent can help you choose insurance that’s right for you.
Health Insurance Market Place Deadline: Special Enrollment Periods
If you missed the health insurance market place deadline for the open enrollment period, there are still ways you may qualify for health insurance coverage.
1. Marriage
If within the last 60 days, you’ve gotten married, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. If you choose a plan by the end of your eligibility month, you can have health insurance coverage that starts at the beginning of the next month.
2. Birth, Adoption, or Foster of a Child
If you’ve recently had a baby, adopted a child, or are fostering a child, you may qualify for health insurance coverage that begins the day of the qualifying event. You can even enroll in the plan up to 60 days after the event.
3. Divorce
A divorce or legal separation that results in the loss of health insurance coverage may qualify you for a special enrollment period. However, if you get a divorce or are legally separated and do not lose health insurance coverage, you won’t qualify for a special enrollment period.
4. Death
If a member of your family on your health plan dies and you are no longer eligible for the plan you’re on, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. This may be a result of the head of the household passing away with dependents on their health insurance plan.
5. Residence Change
Because many health insurance market place plans provide coverage that is local to the area you live, a change in residence can prompt a special enrollment period. Qualifying events include:
- Moving to a new county or ZIP code
- Moving from a foreign country into the U.S.
- Moving as a result of being a student
- Moving as a result of being a seasonal worker
- Moving into or out of a shelter or transitional housing
You do have to prove you had qualifying coverage prior to the move if you’ve lived in the United States.
6. Loss of Health Insurance Coverage
If you had health insurance coverage in the last 60 days and you have recently lost that coverage, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. Instances of losing health insurance coverage include:
- Losing health insurance from your job
- Losing health insurance you bought for yourself
- Losing Medicaid or CHIP eligibility
- Losing Medicare eligibility
- Losing health insurance through a relative
And if you aren’t sure whether you qualify for a special enrollment period or not, the health insurance market place has a screening tool that may be useful in your situation.
How to Save Money on Healthcare Costs if You Miss the Health Insurance Market Place Deadline
Oops! You missed the health insurance market place deadline for the open enrollment period, and you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period right now. Are there ways you can save money on your health coverage?
Use these tips for finding savings on healthcare costs if you miss the health insurance market place deadline:
- Ask about “cash” discounts: If you don’t have health insurance, some doctors offer a discount for customers who pay upfront in cash. See if your doctor will work with you on a payment arrangement if services are too cost-prohibitive.
- Sign up for RX discount cards: For people who take prescriptions regularly, there are discount programs and savings cards available that can help you save money. Sign up for one and find the lowest costs for prescriptions in your area.
- Don’t overlook preventative care: The best way to deal with health issues is to avoid them (when possible) in the first place. Stay up-to-date on vaccines, take your medications as prescribed, and look for small changes that can improve your health.
Even if you missed the health insurance market place deadline, there are ways you can save money on your health coverage.
Health Insurance Market Place Deadline: Act Fast
With the end of the year fast-approaching, it’s a good idea to get your documents together and get your health insurance market place application started. The sooner you fill that out, the sooner you can ensure you’re covered for 2021.
Don’t forget – open enrollment is from November 1, 2020, to December 15, 2020.
Need help choosing market place coverage for 2021? Contact Fiorella Insurance Agency today to talk about your health insurance market place options. Contact Fiorella Insurance Agency today to talk about your health insurance market place options.