Get More Benefits &
Save More! Call For
More Info Today

Healthcare Marketplace Open Enrollment

Important 2021 Open Enrollment dates

• The 2020 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2020, to December 15, 2020.
• If you do not act by December 15, you cannot get 2021 coverage unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• Plans sold during Open Enrollment start on January 1, 2021.

Medicaid & CHIP coverage

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer free or low-cost health coverage to millions of American residents, including some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities.

Some states have extended their Medicaid programs to cover all people below certain income levels.

Even if you do not qualify for Medicaid based on income, you ought to apply. You may qualify for your state’s program, particularly if you have children, are pregnant, or have a disability. You may apply for Medicaid any time of year — Medicaid and CHIP do not have Open Enrollment Periods.

New Baby? See Your Health Insurance Choices

If you or anyone in your home had a baby or adopted a child within the past 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change Marketplace health insurance for the rest of 2020.

How to Apply with a Special Enrollment Period

• New to HealthCare.gov?Create an account to fill out an application for the first time.
• Already have Marketplace coverage?Log in to update your existing 2020 application.

When Will Coverage Begin?

When you enroll in or change plans with a Special Enrollment Period, your new health coverage can begin the day your baby is born or adopted, even if you enroll in the plan up to 60 days afterward.

Note: If you adopted, you might be required to submit documents, such as adoption letters or records, showing the name of the individual who became a dependent and the date they became one.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you enroll for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have had certain life events, such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.

Depending on your Special Enrollment Period kind, you may have 60 days before or 60 days following the event to enroll in a health insurance plan. If you miss your Special Enrollment Period window, you may have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period in order to apply.

You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year if you are qualified, whether you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period or not.

Job-based plans must offer a Special Enrollment Period of at least 30 days.

Resources and References:

• Creating an Account for Special Enrollment
• Children’s Health Insurance Program