Open enrollment usually runs from various dates in October to December. Find out what you can do to get health insurance after open enrollment closes.
Open enrollment has closed but you are in need of health insurance. Remain calm, all is not lost.
While traditional health insurance enrollment happens between October and December, it is still possible to purchase your health insurance outside of those dates under certain circumstances.
So if you are looking for affordable health insurance outside of the open enrollment period, keep reading.
Your Health Insurance Options After Open Enrollment
Once open enrollment has closed there are three options for health insurance.
1. A Qualifying Life Event
The first option is through a qualifying life event. If you get married, have a baby, lose your job, or move you may be eligible for an additional 60-day window to enroll in health insurance.
During this time you may be eligible to purchase a plan via the health insurance marketplace or change your coverage via your existing insurance plan. On the marketplace, you will have several options for coverage including the standard HMO and PPO plans.
A qualifying life event may also allow you to join a spouse or family member’s insurance plan. This may not save money, but it will allow you to get coverage outside of the enrollment dates.
If you are going to seek insurance through a qualifying event, be prepared to verify that event with proof (i.e., marriage certificate).
2. Short Term Medical Plan
Another option is short term health insurance. A short term medical plan can provide minimal health coverage to protect you and your family. They are not available in every state and plans usually last only one year.
Your application for a short term medical plan will not always be accepted and rates may vary based on any pre-existing conditions.
You may be able to renew a short term medical plan for up to 36 months based on your situation.
3. Medicaid or CHIP
The final option is to see if you are eligible for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). These two programs are designed to help specific populations find health insurance.
Individuals or families with low incomes may be eligible for Medicaid as well as those with disabilities or women who are pregnant. CHIP is another form of coverage specifically for children and families that are not eligible for Medicaid.
You can determine your eligibility by looking online at the specific criteria.
Other Health Insurance Options
If you are Native American, you can enroll in a health insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period.
Farm Bureau plans, as well as health care sharing ministry plans, are also available for qualifying individuals. Neither of these options is actually considered insurance by law, but it may facilitate what you need if you missed open enrollment.
You Can Still Get Health Insurance
The bottom line is that even if you have missed open enrollment, you may still be able to get health insurance.
A qualifying life event, a short term medical plan, or Medicaid or CHIP eligibility are your best options to consider.
If you are looking for more health insurance information, take advantage of the content on our website.