Each year, NY State of Health has an Open Enrollment period where anybody who qualifies to use the Marketplace can enroll. When Open Enrollment ends, people can no longer enroll in a Qualified Health Plan and must wait until the next Open Enrollment period.
But, did you know that there are exceptions? It’s true: if you have experienced one of the following life events, you might be able to enroll during Special Enrollment period.
Qualifying life events may include: getting married or losing coverage due to divorce, having a baby or adopting a child, losing employer-sponsored coverage such as when you lose or change your job, or a child aging out of their parent’s health insurance.
A qualifying life event may also include becoming a naturalized citizen, permanently moving to New York or moving outside of your health plan service area where new qualified health plans become available to you.
You may also qualify for the Special Enrollment Period if you’re already enrolled in a qualified health plan through the Marketplace and become duly eligible or ineligible for tax credits or a different amount of cost sharing reductions.
However, some events do not qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. Events that don’t qualify include: voluntarily dropping your health coverage, losing coverage because you didn’t pay your premium, or having a medical emergency.
You have 60 days from the day of the qualifying life event to complete your application and choose your qualified health plan.
Act quickly!
There are additional circumstances that may qualify you for Special Enrollment Period.
If you think you qualify or if you have a question about whether you qualify, visit the NY State of Health website: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or contact us at 718.478.5502 ext. 103.