Did you miss the Health Insurance Marketplace deadline? Life is full of unexpected changes and sometimes those changes mean you need health insurance outside of the regular Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Thankfully you can qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you have experienced a certain qualifying life event.
To be eligible for a SEP, you or someone in your household must experience a qualifying life event within the past 60 days such as:
- Losing health coverage- this includes losing job-based insurance, losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage or aging off parent’s plan at age 26
- Changes in Residence- If you moved to a new home in a new zip code or county or state
- Changes in household- got married; had a baby, adopted a child, or placed a child for foster care; got divorced or legally separated and lost health coverage; or death and lost coverage
There are other situations that may qualify you for a SEP such as gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe, becoming a U.S. citizen or leaving incarceration.
To be eligible to enroll in health coverage in the Marketplace, you must:
- Live in the United States (U.S)
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, or be lawfully present non-citizen in the U.S.
- Not be incarcerated.
- You may qualify for savings, like a premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions, based on your household size and income. (Must file taxes for year you have coverage in order to get tax credit.) If you don’t qualify for savings, you can still buy Marketplace coverage.
Understanding these qualifications and your health insurance options can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, there is free help available at a community health center with a Assister. Assisters are individuals who are trained and educated in the different options for health insurance and assistance. They provide free application and enrollment assistance and education on financial assistance programs. The one-on-one attention provided by the Assister ensures that you know the options available to you for your budget, health, and future.
Need help with your application or assistance with existing coverage? Contact a certified Assister at your local community health center for more information. Call today to make a FREE appointment to see if you qualify for low cost health coverage. Time is limited, so act now! You have 60 days following your qualifying event to enroll in a plan. Visit our Assister page to find a Assister in your area and get the help you need.
Written by Angela Lindstrom, Director of Communications, Health Center Association of Nebraska
