Life events can have a major impact on your health insurance. As you go through any of
these transitional periods, it’s essential to understand the changes that need to be made
in order to keep your coverage up-to-date and in line with your needs. In this guide, we’ll
explore how important life events like having a baby, starting a new job, or getting
married can affect your health insurance plan and what steps you should take when
making needed adjustments.

Marriages and Domestic Partnerships.

If you recently got married or formed a domestic partnership, your health insurance
from either person’s plan could be combined into one. You can contact both plans to
explain the new marital status and ask if the two plans can be linked together for added
coverage. Also, be sure to inform the current plan about any dependent children of
either partner that need coverage. Additionally, some states may require newly married
couples to report this change within a certain time frame in order to keep their existing
coverage.

Births and Adoptions.

If you have had a baby or adopted a child, your insurance plan may offer coverage for
the newborn if it is contacted about the new addition. Be sure to verify the specific
terms of coverage which may include when the dependent can be added and at what
cost. In some cases, you may be able to add them to your existing policy without any
penalties. However, if substantial changes in benefits are necessary, this could prompt a
new enrollment period. It’s important to contact your provider as soon as possible to
prevent any additional costs or delays in getting your baby covered.

Open Enrollment Periods.

Open enrollment periods are important for making needed changes to an existing
insurance policy. During this period, which is typically offered once a year, individuals
can make adjustments to their policy like adding or removing dependents or changing
benefits/coverage levels. It’s important to review your insurance plan during this time
and decide if any changes need to be made based on life events such as getting
married, having a baby, or starting a new job that may impact your current coverage.

Job Changes.

If you change jobs during the course of open enrollment, the new job may offer different
insurance coverage options than your current employer. It’s important to weigh your
options to ensure that you are selecting a plan that best fits your family’s medical needs
and budget. You will want to research each plan and consider variables such as
copayments, deductibles, provider networks, and prescription drug coverage.

Moving to a New State or County

Moving to a new state or county can significantly affect the availability and cost of
health insurance coverage. For example, some states offer Medicaid and CHIP programs
that are not available in other locations. Contact the Department of Health and Human
Services in your current state and your new state to learn more about the differences in
eligibility criteria and personal costs. Additionally, you may need to switch to a different
health care provider who is available in your new location.

What Kind Of Documents Do I Need For A Qualifying Life Event?

Life events such as marriage, birth of a child, or job loss can have an impact on your
health insurance coverage. If you’re experiencing a life event affecting your insurance
coverage, you’ll likely need to provide documentation in order to receive the benefits
and protection of your health plan. Such documentation could include:
– Life events that necessitate health insurance changes include adding family members,
as evidenced by birth certificates, adoption records and marriage licenses.
– A life event such as divorce or death of a family member who provided health insurance
can lead to a loss of coverage. This situation is often marked by the presentation of
documents, like divorce papers and death certificates, which demonstrate the change in
health insurance status for the affected individual.
– Life events related to health insurance may include moving to a new house which
requires getting coverage from a different health plan. This could involve signing up for
a new rental agreement, mortgage, or other document that shows the change of
address and recognizes that you now reside in an area with different health insurance
plans available.
– If you’ve missed the open enrollment period for your employer’s health insurance plan
or the individual health insurance market, then a major life event may qualify you for
what is known as a special enrollment period. Examples of qualifying events include
marriage, having a baby, losing other coverage, or even relocating to another area.
Under these circumstances, you will be allowed to enroll in a new health insurance plan
outside of the normal enrollment time frame.

Health Insurance for the Unemployed

Losing a job is a major life event that can cause stress, but it’s important to remember
that you don’t have to go without health insurance. You may be able to keep your
coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or look for
an affordable alternative through an online marketplace.

How the American Rescue Plan May Help You Save on Health
Coverage

Under the American Rescue Plan, many individuals can receive lower health plan
premiums when they enroll in or already have an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace
plan. To see if you qualify for this life event, check today