As Illinois continues to experience job losses as a result of the pandemic, the Illinois Department of Insurance and Get Covered Illinois are sharing vital information for those who have lost their job-based health insurance about an available option to purchase health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace provides a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for anyone who loses their employer-based health insurance coverage due to job loss. Job loss is considered a “Qualifying Life Event” which allows for special enrollment. Some people may even qualify for subsidies, such as tax credits, that can help reduce premiums and other expenses.
The following website – https://getcovered.illinois.gov/en/Pages/SpecialEnrollmentPeriods.aspx – provides consumer fact sheets, FAQs, and contact information in multiple languages describing the various health insurance options and how to enroll. There are also public service announcement PDFs in multiple languages that can be downloaded and posted or shared.
While Special Enrollment Periods make it possible to enroll at any time for those who qualify, the traditional open enrollment period for 2021 health insurance plans on the ACA Marketplace begins November 1, 2020 and ends December 15, 2020. For more information about any of these options, please visit the website or call Get Covered Illinois at (800)318-2596.
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