5 facts about Special Enrollment Periods
Published on August 3, 2017
For most people, the deadline to enroll in a 2017 health insurance plan has passed. But you may still be able to enroll in health coverage for the rest of 2017 if you qualify for a .
5 things to know about applying with a Special Enrollment Period
- You may be eligible to apply with a Special Enrollment Period if you experience certain life events, like moving, losing other health coverage, or having a baby. See the full list of life events here.
- You usually have up to 60 days following the event to enroll in a plan. If you miss that window, you have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period, which starts on November 1, 2017, to apply for 2018 coverage.
- You can quickly see if you may qualify. Start by answering a few fast questions.
- Depending on your life event, you may be required to provide documents that prove your eligibility to enroll. You must send them before you can start using your coverage. Get more information on confirming your Special Enrollment Period eligibility.
- You can enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) any time of year, whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or not.
Learn more about getting coverage outside Open Enrollment.