With the Affordable Care Act, came many changes to how health insurance operates. One of the major changes is that health insurance is primarily purchased during a regular open enrollment period, unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Here is some information about qualifying and applying for health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. Open Enrollment starts November 15th, 2014 and ends on February 15th, 2015. There is a special enrollment period of 60 days for those who qualify. This special enrollment period takes place then the life event occurs. To qualify for a special enrollment period, you have to have experienced a major life event that affects your health insurance options. Talk to a health care official to see if you qualify. Some of these qualifying major life events are:
- Marriage
- Birth of a child
- Loss of your job, resulting in the loss of employer-sponsored heal insurance
- Loss of health insurance due to a divorce, death of a spouse or parent, or other event.
There are other plan options for individuals and families who do not have a qualifying life event but missed the open enrollment deadline. These plans do not always meet the Affordable Care Act requirements, so you may be subject to a fee.
- Short Term Medical Insurance: These plans provide coverage for the major “what if” scenarios and are available for as little as 30 days or as long as 360 days.
- Fixed-Benefit Insurance: These health insurance plans pay set cash amounts to help you manage your health care needs of today (like check-ups, prescriptions, and lab tests) rather than the possible needs of tomorrow.
- Dental and other supplemental plans: If you need a dental plan or coverage for accidents or critical illnesses, you can add these options onto most of the health care insurance options that are available to you.
Contact the Bob Wolfgram Insurance Agency for all your Wisconsin health insurance needs we can help you figure out open enrollment and getting healthcare outside of the marketplace. Get a policy with us today!
