Countdown to the 2021 Open Enrollment Deadline

Open Enrollment: Yep, that riveting time of the year when you get to pick your health plan for 2021. Well, guess what? It’s still happening! And we’re here to help clarify a few final things.

Now, if you’re reading this, that means you missed the deadline for January coverage.

On the one hand, this means you’ll save a month’s premium. On the other hand, this means you should probably take it way easy this next month. Getting injured without health insurance could cost you a small fortune.

At any rate, you now have until January 15th (for on-exchange plans) or January 31st (for off-exchange plans) to get health coverage for 2021.

Here’s what you need to know about the final 2021 deadlines:

1. January 15th is the end-all-be-all for on-exchange health coverage in 2021. If you don’t enroll through your state’s health exchange by this date, you’ll have no health coverage for the whole year (unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. See below).
2. January 31st is the final deadline for off-exchange health coverage in 2021. So, if you’re buying directly from a health insurance carrier, like Friday Health Plans, you have until the end of the month to do so.
3. Your plan will start on February 1st.
4. You can still qualify for financial aid (a subsidy) on your health plan. But you must buy a plan on the exchange—through your health exchange—in order to qualify for a subsidy.

There’s also Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment when you can buy health insurance.

Here’s the basic gist of SEP: You can qualify for SEP if you’ve experienced what’s known as a “life-changing” event.

Examples of life-changing events: turning 26 and aging off your parent’s plan, getting married, adopting a child, losing health coverage, and having a baby.

Check out this page  for a list of all life-changing events to see if you qualify.

As always, if you have any questions whatsoever, please call our friendly customer service team: 800-475-8466. We know health insurance can be super confusing, and we’re here to help simplify things.

Thanks,

The Friday Team

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