Was your fall so busy with work and holiday prep that you totally missed Open Enrollment? The Open Enrollment Period began November 1 and ended December 15, and, for some, a little over a month to sign up for health insurance is barely enough time! You were probably too busy to even begin researching plans, or maybe you were simply unaware of when you can sign up for health insurance. But no need to worry, EZ has a solution for you. You can sign up for a short-term plan, which will give you coverage until the next Open Enrollment Period.
Special Enrollment Period
Before we look at short term plans, you should know that the only way to get most full-coverage health insurance plans outside of Open Enrollment is if you have experienced a qualifying life event. Qualifying life events include getting married, adding a family member, moving, getting divorced, etc. Experiencing one of these events will open up a Special Enrollment Period for you. You will then have 60 days to sign up for a new plan.
Short-Term Plans
If you do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, the next step is to consider a short-term plan. These plans are much cheaper than ACA plans, but do not offer as much coverage. They are worth considering, though: short-term healthcare plans provide fast, flexible insurance with many benefits. You are able to pick your deductible amount from many options. And you are able to drop coverage without a penalty for a long-term insurance option.
You can get one of these policies at any time and it will cover you for 364 days. It is important to note that they do not have to cover pre-existing conditions, so premiums can be based on your medical history. These plans are considered minimum essential coverage, because they are not regulated by the Affordable Care Act. Because they are not subject to ACA rules, these plans do not have to include the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits, such as:
- Ambulatory patient services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services, and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services
Choosing a short term health insurance will save you money. However, make sure you know what you are purchasing, and make sure that it is the right choice for you.
Get Insured While Saving
Missing the Open Enrollment Period is more common than you might think, so don’t feel alone. Even though you missed it, you do not have to go uninsured. EZ.Insure wants to make sure that you are protected from any catastrophic and unexpected healthcare emergencies. We will compare all available short-term plans in your area to find a plan that gives you the most coverage with the most savings. And because we just want to make sure you are properly insured, we offer all of our services at no cost to you. We will provide you with your own personal agent who will go over your needs and find a great short-term plan that can temporarily insure you until the next Open Enrollment Period. To compare quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890.