It’s time once more for open enrollment season at HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment runs until December 15th, 2021 and gives you an opportunity to apply and shop for new health care and dental plans in your state. You don’t want to miss out on this and be stuck without a health insurance plan for 2022.
Here’s what you should know about open enrollment.
You can fill out an application to see if you qualify for tax credits
You may be surprised to learn that you are eligible for big tax credits that will bring the cost of your premium down substantially. If you don’t currently have health insurance, but are scared away by the cost of premiums, once you fill out an application, you may learn that the cost of health insurance is not out of your reach.
Filling out an application doesn’t obligate you to sign up for a plan
Even if you’re just curious to see what the marketplace at HealthCare.gov can offer you, filling out an application doesn’t obligate you to sign up for any health or dental plan. You can fill out an application and leave it if you don’t find anything to your liking.
Open enrollment ends on December 15th, 2021
The ability for anyone to enroll in health insurance or dental insurance coverage starting in 2022 ends on December 15th, 2021. What that means is that you will have to have a special exemption to qualify for a special enrollment period.
Special enrollment periods qualify you for the rest of the year
If you miss out on the open enrollment period, you may be eligible for the special enrollment period if you had a major life event such as:
- Lost coverage (like lost your job)
- Moved
- Got married
- Had a baby
- Adopted a child
Still, since open enrollment is now, you don’t have to wonder if you’re eligible for the special enrollment period – everyone is eligible to shop on the marketplace from now until December 15th. Make sure that you check it out on HealthCare.gov!