Erickson Financial Services, Inc. &
Emmett J. King, LLC
Colorado Health Insurance Broker & Group Benefits Adviser
Special Enrollment Event
After Open Enrollment Ends, the Special Enrollment Period begins. The Special Enrollment Period allows a consumer, who experiences a qualifying event, to enroll in a new health insurance plan or make changes to an existing one.
A consumer has 60 days from the date of a qualifying event, including the date of the qualifying event, to apply for coverage or make a change to an existing plan. The 15th of the month is the cutoff date for a 1st of the following month effective date (see below for exceptions to this effective date). For your convenience, a full list of qualifying events is below.
The Birth or Adoption of a Baby/Child
If the customer is adding a newborn, the effective date will be the actual birth date. If the customer is adding a child due to adoption, the effective date is the actual placement date of the adoption.
Marriage
The earliest effective date is the first day of the following month. For example if the marriage was on 5/7/2018, their earliest possible effective date would be 6/1/18.
Involuntary Loss of Minimum Essential Health Coverage
The applicant has until the last day of the previous month to request the first of the month effective date. For example if the loss occurred on 5/17/18, then their earliest possible effective date would be 6/1/18.
A list of qualifying, also known as special or triggering, events is below. All of these special events will open a window of 60 days to allow a consumer to choose and enroll in any health plan:
1. An individual and any dependents who lose minimum essential health coverage (except if terminated for non-payment of premium).
2. An individual gained or became a dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, placement for adoption, or placement in foster care.
3. An individual experienced an error in enrollment.
4. An individual adequately demonstrated that the plan or issuer substantially violated a material provision of the contract in which s/he is enrolled.
5. An individual became newly eligible or ineligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit or is experiencing a change in eligibility for cost-sharing reductions.
6. An individual or enrollee made a permanent move and new coverage is available.
7. A Native American, as defined by section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, may enroll in a QHP or change from one QHP to another one time per month (this is only applicable to coverage purchased through the Marketplace).
8. An individual, who was not previously a citizen, national, or recently lawfully present individual gains such status (this is only applicable to coverage purchased through the Marketplace).
9. An individual is released from incarceration.
