What's the Big Deal about Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is the only time you can make changes to your insurance coverage, right? NO!

Insurance companies want you to chose a plan, pay your premiums, don't get sick and keep everything the same. When you realize your choices and want to make changes, it can save YOU money but costs them, so they limit the time period to enroll.

Luckily there are certain events that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.

You can make changes to your plan or shop for a different one when a "qualifying" life changing events occurs. Here is what you need to know for 2018. After January 12th, 2018 you will only be allowed to shop for a new health plan if you have a qualifying Life Change Event and apply for new coverage within 60 days of that event.

Qualifying Life Change Events include but are not limited to:

Birth of a baby, adoption of a child or placement of a child for foster care
Change in marital status
Move to a new permanent address in your state

Changes in your income that can affect the financial assistance and Qualifying Life Change Events:

Change of tribal status
Become a U.S. citizen
Leaving incarceration
Change of dependency status of someone on your plan
Death of a covered member of your household
Turning 26 and aging off your parent’s plan
Starting/ending AmeriCorps service
Incorrectly or inappropriately enrolled in a health plan for some reason that is not due to an error or omission on the part of Connect for Health Colorado (Market Plans per state may differ)
Violation of the contract you had with your health insurance carrier
Loss of an exemption to purchase health insurance coverage
Change in affordability of employer-sponsored insurance
Loss of minimum essential coverage