Out with the old, in with the new

Signing up for a new health insurance plan means a lot. It may mean new co-pays, new deductibles and even new doctors. But it also means making sure you don’t have a gap in coverage before your new plan begins.

Continuous coverage is crucial

Unless you want a hefty bill for any medical services you seek out, getting continuous coverage is crucial. Luckily, if you lose your health insurance, it automatically entitles you to a Special Enrollment Period under the Affordable Care Act. This lets you join a plan on the government marketplace outside the annual enrollment period.

You have a choice in plans

Often, when a plan ends, your insurance company will send you a letter recommending a new plan. But that doesn’t mean you have to sign up for it. If the suggested plan is too expensive, or doesn’t meet your needs, you can select a completely different plan.

When to sign up

You can sign up for a new health insurance plan 45 days before the end of your current coverage, or 60 days after it ends. So there’s no need to panic – in total, you have over three months to choose new coverage.

If you have additional questions about getting a new insurance plan when your old one is over, talk to an insurance broker today!