Special Enrollment Periods

The usual dates are not the only dates

A Special Enrollment Period lets you make a change outside the annual window when certain things happen in your life. The rules are specific, and the window is usually limited, so the important thing is to act when the event happens rather than months later.

Common triggers

• You moved out of your plan's service area, or to somewhere with different plans available
• You lost other coverage, including employer or union coverage
• You have Medicare and Medicaid, or you get help paying for prescriptions
• Your plan changed its contract, or stopped being offered where you live
• You moved into or out of a nursing home or similar facility

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid

This is the one most people are never told about. Having both cards can let you review and change your plan more than once a year, rather than waiting for the fall. More on that here.

How to use one

Windows are time-limited and the clock usually starts at the event, not when you find out. If something on this list has happened to you recently, it is worth a ten minute call to find out whether a window is open and how long it stays open.