Surprise! Life Changes and the ACA

Life is always full of surprises and changes. Job loss, marriage, child birth, moving. Any of these things could trigger the kind of life change that makes you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Marriage – or divorce- could trigger eligibility for a “Special Enrollment Period.”

If you qualify for a SEP, you may still be able to get health insurance in 2017, outside the open enrollment period that ended earlier in the year.

But you have to hurry. The marketplace usually gives you just 60 days after the life-changing event to enroll in a plan. Miss the deadline and you have to wait for the next Open Enrollment Period, which begins Nov 1, 2017 for 2018 healthcare coverage.

Not sure you qualify? The health marketplace makes it easy to find out by answering a few questions. You can go here to find out if you qualify: https://www.healthcare.gov/screener/

Some healthcare programs have year-round enrollment, including Medicaid and CHIP, also known in Florida as Kidcare, the children’s insurance program. These are not tied to SEPs.

The federally licensed healthcare navigators with the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida enroll consumers through healthcare.gov all year long and can help answer your SEP questions. Call 877-553-7453 to speak to a navigator or make an appointment for in-person assistance. More information is also available at http://www.efof.org/acanavigation

To find out more about Special Enrollment Periods, go to https://www.healthcare.gov/blog/special-enrollment-period-facts/