How to purchase health insurance now that the Open Enrollment Season has concluded

In my town of Romeoville, Illinois or any other town in America, now that Open Enrollment under the Affordable Care Act has concluded, the only way to purchase Health Insurance is through a Special Election Period. Similar to an SEP in the Medicare Advantage world, there are several things that qualify you for this enrollment. Without a qualifying event, you cannot purchase insurance.

Here are a list of things that qualify for an SEP…

  1. Renewal of a grandfather or non-grandfathered individual major medical plan in 2014. HOWEVER, so far I am hearing only Assurant is honoring this type of SEP. The other carriers I have asked have said no.
  2. Return from active military duty
  3. Release from Prison
  4. Gain of immigration or citizenship status
  5. Permanent move to a different state


Loss of Minimum Essential coverage due to:

  1. Plan discontinued that did not meet Health Care Reform requirements
  2. Legal Separation or divorce
  3. Termination of domestic partnership or Civil Union ( in states where this applies)
  4. Change in full-time employment status
  5. Involuntary loss of employer sponsored health insurance
  6. Death of a parent or Spouse
  7. Change in dependent status as a result of turning 26


Gaining or becoming a dependent due to:

  1. Marriage
  2. Domestic Partnership
  3. Birth / adoption of Children
  4. Placement for adoption of children
  5. Guardian/court ordered dependent


You have 60 days from the date of the qualifying event.

In the event that the qualifying event is a renewal from a grandfathered or non-grandfathered plan, the renewal date will serve as the qualifying date.