What Exactly Is A Qualifying Event?

Now that the open enrollment period has ended for 2014 healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act, you may believe that ship has sailed, so to speak, until 2015′s enrollment period (which starts November 15, 2014). There are provisions, though, that have been written into the health insurance legislation which allows for special enrollment due to what’s called “qualifying events”.

Following is a more specific list of qualifying events:

• Marital Status Change: Marriage, divorce, death of spouse, annulment or legal separation
• Family Unit Change: Birth, death of child, adoption, placement for adoption
• Employment/Income Change: Change in income, change in employment for self, spouse or dependent
• Eligibility for current plan: Dependent ages out of eligibility for existing coverage

If you experience a qualifying event outside the enrollment periods, you’ll have 60 days from the date of that event to obtain new healthcare coverage without penalty.

If you have specific questions about your family’s eligibility, the experienced professionals at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services can help. Sackett & Associates has been assisting Sonoma County residents with their health insurance needs since 1979. To get your questions answered or for a no-obligation quote, contact Sackett & Associates today!!