Buying Health Insurance After Open Enrollment

After the original Marketplace open enrollment, October 1, 2013–March 31, 2014, individuals and families can enroll in Marketplace insurance only if you have certain life events that give you a “special enrollment period.” These are usually referred to as "qualifying life events."

Qualifying life events that create a special enrollment period include:

• Getting married
• Having, adopting, or placement of a child
• Permanently moving to a new area that offers different health plan options. This can be in the same state, just a different area.
• Losing other health coverage due to: 

• job loss 
• divorce 
• loss of eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP 
• expiration of COBRA coverage 
• health plan being decertified 
• For people already enrolled in Marketplace coverage, having a change in income or household status that affects eligibility for tax credits or cost-sharing reductions.

The following are NOT considered qualifying life events:

• Losing coverage that is not "minimum essential coverage"
• Voluntarily quitting other health coverage
• Coverage being terminated for not paying your premiums 

Special enrollment periods

If you have a qualifying life event, you get a special enrollment period. This means you can enroll in or change your health insurance plan outside the open enrollment period.

Most special enrollment periods last for 60 days from the date of the qualifying life event. Though some events only last 30 days.

You can apply for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time. If you're qualified you can enroll right away.


So, you missed open enrollment and you need coverage. The next proposed open enrollment period is November 15, 2014 - February 15, 2015. – Yes, you have to wait unless you have a qualifying life event.

Information from www.healthcare.gov as of 3/11/14