There were nearly 28 million Americans in 2020 who didn’t have health insurance. While there are plenty of resources to become insured, many still aren’t sure where and how to enroll for proper healthcare.
Luckily, Americans have access to open enrollment that helps them attain the care that they need. But what is open enrollment for health care? And when can you get the coverage you’re looking for?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out more about open enrollment for health insurance.
What Is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment for health care is a window of time each year where eligible residents can sign up for health insurance. They can also make any changes to their plan or even cancel them.
This period is usually only open for two weeks, so anyone who is unable to make changes in that time must wait until the same time the following year. There are different types of insurance that have open enrollment.
Insurance that you get from the federal or state marketplace, Medicare, or your job has open enrollment periods. Let’s break each of those down:
Open Enrollment for Health Care: Federal and State Marketplace
For private health insurance plans, the open enrollment period is usually between the first of November until December 15th. For federal and state insurance marketplaces, you can get insured in a few ways.
One is through a government-sponsored website, or by calling the marketplace call center. You can also go to the insurance provider’s website and see if you could purchase it from there.
An advantage of going through the federal and state marketplace is that you can get tax credits for lower monthly premiums. However, a higher income or pre-existing conditions may cause you to opt for other options.
Open Enrollment for Health Care: Employer-Based Insurance
One of these options is employer-based insurance. The enrollment period for these options change year to year, but still, generally take place in the fall.
You can contact your employers about getting medical insurance and follow the purchasing procedures. Know that you likely won’t receive tax credits and may be uninsured if you don’t purchase a plan in time.
Open Enrollment for Medicare
Medicare open enrollment takes place between October 15th through December 7th. There are also other windows during the year where Medicare beneficiaries can change their coverage.
There are also other periods to unenroll from certain Medicare plans. This might be for those who want to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
If you’re a Medicaid beneficiary, there are no open enrollment periods. Simply contact your state Medicaid agency program to get the coverage you need.
Finding the Best Health Insurance Option
Understanding open enrollment for health care can be a bit confusing, but it’s nonetheless a crucial part of getting and keeping your insurance. Use this guide to help you mark the right enrollment dates on your calendar this year.
Need help finding health insurance coverage for you and your family? Contact us today and we’ll provide a solution right away!