Health benefits & coverage

A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount. Refer to glossary for more details.

Exception: grandfathered plans don’t have to cover pre-existing conditions

An individual health insurance policy purchased on or before March 23, 2010. These plans weren’t sold through the Marketplace, but by insurance companies, agents, or brokers. They may not include some rights and protections provided under the Affordable Care Act.

Refer to glossary for more details.

don’t have to cover pre-existing conditions or preventive care. If you have a grandfathered plan and want pre-existing conditions covered, you have 2 options:

• You can switch to a Marketplace plan that will cover them during Open Enrollment.
• You can buy a Marketplace plan outside Open Enrollment when your grandfathered plan year ends, and you’ll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.