Getting health insurance before you really need it is recommended. The federal marketplace (and many state marketplaces) open enrollment period for purchasing private health insurance starts annually on November 1 and ends on January 15.
Periods of special enrollment
During a special enrollment period, you may be able to enrol in health insurance if you’ve experienced a qualifying life event. Certain situations may necessitate specific enrollment:
- The end of your health insurance
- Exiting a parent’s health insurance coverage as an adult
- Getting hitched or splitting up
- Transferring to another state
- Procreating a family through birth or adoption
- To make sure you don’t miss out on the special enrollment window, which usually lasts for 60 days following your qualifying event, start applying for it right away.
Read: Your Guide to Health Insurance: 4 Effective Ways to Get Covered
Plans for temporary health coverage
A short-term health insurance plan can be an option for you if you miss the open enrollment window or don’t meet the requirements for a special enrollment period.
Neither the basic essential coverage criteria nor coverage for pre-existing diseases are met by these plans, according to the ACA.
These plans are not accessible in all states and have a maximum duration of 364 days with two insurance renewal options.
