What is a Qualifying Life Event which qualifies one for Special Enrollment?
1.) You move to a new area that offers you different plans, or isn’t covered by your HMO or PPO network.
2.) You get married.
3.) You have or adopt a child.
4.) You lose other health coverage due to job loss, a decrease in work hours, end of COBRA coverage or other reasons.
5.) You become a U.S. citizen.
6.) Your income changes, or some other event changes your income or household status.
7.) You can prove that your health insurance company violated its contract with you.
8.) You are no longer covered on a family member’s policy because you turned 26, you have legally separated from or divorced your spouse, or the policy holder has passed away.
9.) You become a member of an American Indian and Alaska Native tribe.
10.) You experience an error or other complication when trying to enroll
11.) You experience other events that qualify for special enrollment.
12.) 2015 Special Enrollment guide from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
How does Special Enrollment work?
In most cases, you have 60 days after the qualifying life event to enroll in or change your health plan. If you have insurance through your job, you may only have 30 days to enroll. If you qualify for Special Enrollment click the logo below to compare plans from all carriers and find the right health insurance plan for you and your family. 
What if you don't qualify for Special Enrollment?
If you missed open enrollment and don’t qualify for the special enrollment period, you can still stay insured by buying Short-Term health insurance. Short-Term or Temporary health insurance plans can keep you covered until the next open enrollment period begins again in November of 2015 for January 1, 2016 effective dates. Please note: You must also understand that you will be subject to a 2% of your MAGI ‘fine’ (TAX) for purchasing temporary health insurance since these plans do not include the “essential health benefits” under the PPACA (Obamacare). As such temporary policies are not considered ‘qualified health plans’. Rest assured though, if you are self employed and do not over pay your taxes you will never pay that ‘fine’ (TAX) for the only recourse the IRS has to collect that fine is to hold your tax refund. All criminal penalties for non compliance were removed from the health care law prior to passage.
Click the United Healthcare logo for Short-Term health insurance quotes
Our recommendation for Short-term health insurance is United Healthcare insurance company. United Healthcare is one of the only companies with Short-Term health insurance that also covers outpatient and inpatient prescription drugs the same as any other illness. Most other carriers who offer Short-Term health insurance do not cover outpatient prescription drugs or if they do, they only cover a small amount after you have paid your health plan deductible. This can lead to catastrophic out of pocket expenses for those who develop a major medical illness outside of open enrollment.
To get quotes & apply online for United Healthcare’s Short-term health insurance click on their logo above.
