With so many different rules and regulations which determine when you can sign up for coverage or change your plan, Vantage wants to help make these rules simple and easy to understand. Let’s take a brief look at the different enrollment dates for a variety of plan types.
Enrollment Periods
Enrollment periods are designated times in which you can sign up for or change your insurance coverage. There are two (2) types of enrollment periods: Annual Enrollment Periods and Special Enrollment Periods.
Your Annual Enrollment Period (sometimes called Open Enrollment) determines when you may sign up or change your health insurance coverage. This period of time usually occurs once every year and may be different depending on what type of coverage you have.
Special Enrollment Periods are in addition to the Annual Enrollment Period. These are other opportunities throughout the year where you can enroll in or change your plan section. You must have proof of an event that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. Examples of these “qualifying events” are turning 65 years old, moving to a new state, or an involuntary termination of your employer group coverage. Call Vantage to ask if your situation qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period.
In the sections below, we will discuss Annual Enrollment Period timing.
Office of Group Benefits (OGB)
If you are a state employee, state retiree, or eligible for coverage through the Office of Group Benefits, or “OGB,” the Open Enrollment period is October 1st – November 15th. Visit the Office of Group Benefits website at info.groupbenefits.org for more information.
Individuals and Families
If you are an individual or if you have a family and you are wanting to sign up or change any of your health insurance coverage, you may do so between November 1st – December 15th for coverage beginning January 1st. (This applies to individuals and families who enroll on or off the Exchange or on www.Healthcare.gov) Other types of insurance policies, like short-term and limited benefit policies, may allow enrollments and effective dates throughout the year.
If you or your family is covered by an employer group plan, you should contact your employer’s Human Resources department for your group’s enrollment dates. Employers usually hold enrollment periods in the month prior to the group’s effective date.
Medicare
If you are a Medicare-eligible member, you can enroll or change coverage from October 15th – December 7th of each year for coverage beginning on January 1st. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage – Prescription Drug Plan during this time, you may also have a special election between January 1st - March 31st of each year.
If you are turning 65, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan 3 months before your birthday month, during your birthday month, or 3 months after your birthday month.
If you would like to know more about what Medicare coverage is and some of the different types of plans under Medicare, click here.
Questions?
If you have any questions about any these coverage types, when you can sign up, or when you can make plan changes, give Vantage’s Member Services team a call at (888) 823-1910 or visit VantageHealthPlan.com for more details.
