Special Enrollment Requires a Qualifying Event
Now that open enrollment is closed, the only way to get on a plan or make changes to your existing plan, is with a qualifying event. A qualifying event can open up a Special Enrollment Period or SEP.
Timing is critical! You must enroll in your plan within 60 days of your qualifying event.
So, what is a qualifying event?
Examples of Qualifying Events:
- Permanently moves to a new area that offers different health plan options
- Involuntarily losing other health coverage (see next section)
- Experienced an error in enrollment
- Becomes newly eligible or ineligible for Advance Premium Tax Credits or has a change in eligibility for Cost-Sharing reductions
- Returns from active military duty
- Gains immigration status or citizenship
- Released from incarceration
Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage Due to:
- Discontinuation of a current plan that doesnt meet health care reform requirements
- Legal separation
- Divorce
- Termination of domestic partnership or civil union
- Change in full-time employment status
- Involuntary loss of employer-sponsored insurance
- Death of a parent or spouse
- Change in dependent status as a result of turning 26
Gaining or Becoming a Dependent Due to:
- Marriage
- Domestic partnership
- Birth of child/children
- Adoption of child/children
- Placement for adoption of child/children
- Guardian/court-ordered dependent
Additionally, Connect for Health Colorado provides these examples of Life Change Events that can help you get new coverage.
Events that allow CURRENT customers to shop for a New plan:
- Change of American Indian/Alaska Native status
- Change of residence (if moving out of a service area)
- Gain or loss of eligibility for the tax credit or cost sharing reduction
- Incorrect or inappropriate enrollment NOT due to a customer error
- A customer demonstrates that their health plan has substantially violated a provision of its contract