A need for quick health insurance coverage can arise for many reasons. The most common reasons include a loss of health insurance and impending medical expenses. When you attempt to get insurance, you may discover that under the Affordable Care Act the rules and limitations for obtaining health insurance have changed significantly. Not only may you NOT be able to get instant health insurance, but you may have to go without coverage until the next Annual Open Enrollment Period!
Let’s delve further into whether getting quick coverage may be a possibility for you…
If you have a need for instant health insurance coverage due to one of the following life events occurring within the past 60 days, you may be able to obtain health insurance through a Special Enrollment Period:
- You just gave birth.
- You just got divorced and your spouse previously provided your coverage.
- You just took a higher-paying job and your children are now ineligible for Medicaid.
- You just moved to a new county or state, like from South Carolina to North Carolina.
- You just lost your job and your health insurance along with it.
- Your spouse passed away, leaving you newly uninsured.
- You just aged off of your parent’s plan.
- You just graduated college and lost student health coverage.
- You just got out of jail.
- You just became a legal U.S. citizen.
If you did not recently experience one (or more) of the above life events, then you will probably have to wait until the next Annual Open Enrollment Period in order to buy health insurance coverage.
You may find yourself seeking health insurance due to one of the following three situations, however, none would qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, and you would need to wait until the next Annual Open Enrollment Period to obtain coverage.
- You just became sick and need medical care.
- You just found out you are pregnant.
- You just found out you will need surgery.
An immediate or pressing need for healthcare or health insurance is not going to open up the opportunity for you to get insurance through a Special Enrollment Period.
However, once the Annual Open Enrollment Period begins, your cost for coverage will not be affected by any pre-existing conditions, and your eligibility to purchase instant health insurance will not be nullified by the impending costs associated with your healthcare.