When can I get health insurance?

There's a sign-up season every fall called Open Enrollment. Outside of it, big life changes open a window too, for example if your job coverage ends, you move, you marry or you have a child.

More detail

Here's an example. Say you're 58 and your job's health coverage ends June 30 because you're retiring early. You don't have to wait until fall. Losing job coverage usually gives you 60 days to pick a new plan, and you can even apply up to 60 days before your coverage ends, so there's no gap.

The most common mistake is waiting too long. Miss that 60-day window, and you may have to wait for Open Enrollment, which runs November 1 to January 15.

Other changes that can open a window include moving to a new ZIP code or county, getting married, or having or adopting a child.

What to have ready: • The date your current coverage ends (a letter from your employer helps) • An estimate of your household income for the year • Names and birth dates of everyone who needs coverage

If something just changed in your life, give me a call and we'll check your dates.