The Biden-Harris administration has recently announced a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) where all eligible residents can sign up for health coverage from February 15 to August 15—and they don’t need a Qualifying Life Event to do so. We’ll explain the details and how to sign up.
Usually, consumers can apply for a plan at two times of the year:
During this new Special Enrollment Period, anyone can enroll in a Marketplace health plan (aka an Obamacare plan or Affordable Care Act plan), without a Qualifying Life event. If you missed the last Open Enrollment Period, you now have a second chance to get coverage.
Consumers will not need to provide any documentation (e.g., loss of a coverage through a job, birth of a child, etc.), which is typically required for eligibility outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period.
In the 36 states that use the Federal Marketplace, it runs from February 15, 2021 - August 15, 2021.
The states that operate their own exchanges will have separate enrollment dates. Here are the states who have announced enrollment dates so far:
* These states are only allowing uninsured people to enroll without a qualifying life change
**These states are only allowing uninsured or unsubsidized people to enroll without a qualifying life change.
You can see plans and prices and start your application by entering your zip code below, going to healthsherpa.com, or calling (872) 228-2549 to enroll over the phone.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that the COVID-19 emergency presents exceptional circumstances for consumers in accessing health insurance. Because of this emergency, they’re providing a Special Enrollment Period for individuals and families to apply and enroll in the coverage they need.