The East Community Guide - Gainesville, FL November 2018 The East | Page 4

Open Enrollment for the 2019 Plan Year
Open enrollment is a period of time each year when you can sign up for
health insurance. If you don't sign up for health insurance during open
enrollment, you probably can't sign up for health insurance until the next
open enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying event.
If you’re eligible and apply for health insurance during open enrollment,
the health plan must insure you. The company is not allowed to use
underwriting or require evidence of insurability, both of which could
make it harder for you to get health insurance.
What Health Insurance Sources Use Open Enrollment Periods?
Open enrollment periods are common and in place for:
 Medicare
 Job-based health
insurance
 Individual market health insurance, as a result of the Affordable Care
Act (enrollment windows apply both in the health insurance
exchanges and outside the exchanges)
When Is Open Enrollment?
The time of year for open enrollment depends on the health care plan
you choose:
 Medicare
open enrollment runs from November 1 st to December 15 th
each year. Note that this does NOT apply to Medigap plans, which
don't have an annual open enrollment period. Medigap plans are only
available without medical underwriting during your initial enrollment
period, or during one of the very limited special enrollment periods
that apply to those plans.
 Job-based health insurance open enrollment periods are set by your
employer and can happen at any time of the year. However, it's
usually in autumn so the new coverage begins on January 1 of the next
year.
Open enrollment in the individual market (on and off-exchange) has varied considerably
over the last few years. Starting with 2018 coverage, the open enrollment schedule has
settled at November 1 to December 15, with all plans effective January 1 of the coming
year. So open enrollment for 2018 coverage begins November 1, 2018 and ends
December 15, 2018.
4