Open Enrollment Period for Healthcare.gov 2020
WHY NOW?
Acting during Open Enrollment is crucial. If you miss the window you may be stuck with whatever insurance you currently have, or don’t have. The scenarios of why that’s terrible are many and easy to imagine.
Outside the Open Enrollment Period, you generally can enroll in a health insurance plan BUT only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You’re eligible if you have certain life events, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other health coverage.
- Job-based plans may have different Open Enrollment Periods. Check with your employer.
- You can apply and enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year
What are my plan options?
There are many options available, but not too many. That’s because different plans are available in different States and parts of states. In fact, when you go to Healthcare.gov to explore your options, the first thing you have to do is enter your zip code. Plans you are not eligible for are filtered out. Go ahead and hit that link so you see what I mean. We’ll still be here.
Types of Plans and How to Sign Up for them
Maybe you’re a GOLD kind of family, or you only want a BRONZE. If you can afford a PLATINUM, well….
Maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about (and I wouldn’t hold it against you if you didn’t). You could learn more by clicking this link.
If you’ve been checking out the different links I’ve been showing you, then you probably have a degree of comfort navigating the Healthcare.gov website. That’s great! I remember when it first launched and what a mess it was, though that was partly because so many people desperately needed it that it got flooded with traffic. It’s much better now.
GO CHECK YOUR OPTIONS
Now that you know how to sign up, and how to begin exploring your options, get over to Healthcare.gov and get started. Alternatively, book an appointment on your calendar to do it. Put aside a few hours and make sure you’ve got your coffee with you. Healthcare choices take time because they are big choices with, sometimes, major consequences.
But don’t be intimidated. In 2017, in just the last week of Open Enrollment, 4.1 million people signed up. You’ve got this.
If this article helped you decide to go to Healthcare.gov and give signing up a try, then I hope you’ll pass it on to others. This is important stuff.
Thanks – jim
And you can share this graphic too!
