Social Enrollment Period
Did you know that your health insurance does not always work the same when you move to a new location? One of the most frequent questions we get here at SBG Insurance Group involves moving into the area and whether the client’s current plan is the most suitable for them. Most of the time, the answer is “no.” The reason for this is the idea of “service areas,” health insurance plans are generally designed to work best in a particular area or region.
Thankfully, if you are on Medicare, Medicaid, or a Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obama Care) health insurance plans you have options! Both Medicare and the ACA have special enrollment period that allow individuals to enroll in coverage outside of the regular enrollment periods.
If you are on a Medicare based plan when you move, you have a special enrollment period to make changes to your Medicare coverage. You may have the opportunity to change your plan if you move to a new service area, move within your service area but gain new plan options, or move back into the United State after living outside of the country. This may mean something as simple as moving from Charlotte County to Sarasota County because there are different plans not available in Charlotte County that are available to you in Sarasota County.
What Does This Mean?
This enrollment generally lasts 60 days and starts when you notify Social Security of your move. During this special enrollment period, you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. You change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. You can also join a Medicare Prescription Drug plan, or change from one Medicare Prescription Drug plan to another.
If you are on an ACA plan when you move, you may have 60 days before or 60 days following the move to enroll or change a plan. You may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period if you move to a new home in a new ZIP code or county. You may also qualify if you moved the U.S. from a foreign country or United States territory. You may also qualify if you move to or from the place you attend school (if you are a student), the place you both live and work (if you are a seasonal worker), or shelter or other transitional housing. It is important to know that moving only for medical treatment or staying somewhere for vacation does not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.
You must prove you had qualifying health coverage for one or more days during the 60 days before your move. You don’t need to provide proof if you’re moving from a foreign country or United States territory.
It’s important to note that the rules and eligibility criteria for special enrollment periods. This can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the type of coverage you are enrolling in. If you have questions about your eligibility for a special enrollment period, it’s best to contact the appropriate organization or a licensed insurance agent for guidance.
About Us!
The experts at SBG Insurance Group can help walk you through your options and make sure that you are on the best plan to suit your needs. All our clients work with us free of charge for our services and guidance, Give us a call today!
