Special Enrollment
As you may be aware, the Biden administration previously created an extenuating circumstances special enrollment period (SEP) on HealthCare.gov in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SEP allows individuals to sign up for coverage (or change plans) without a typical qualifying event.
President Joseph Biden signed an executive order on Thursday which instructs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize a new special enrollment period in the individual health insurance market. The special enrollment period will be available because of the exceptional circumstances that have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance that will impact COBRA procedures, special enrollment periods, and claims procedures. The guidance will extend the length of certain time periods applicable to group health plans, disability plans and other welfare plans regulated by the ERISA law. Plan participants and beneficiaries will have additional time to do the following:
If you’re familiar with the individual health insurance market, you should be aware that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made significant changes to the application and enrollment processes starting in 2014.
Many insurance carriers are offering up a limited time special enrollment period due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Call it a midyear open enrollment period if you will. No qualifying event is necessary to enroll in the group health plan. Many insurance carriers (at the discretion of the employer) are allowing employees to join the group health plan if they waived coverage during the employer’s typical open enrollment period. This comes as good news for many employees.
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