This year, it was announced that many people would lose their individual under-65 health insurance through Wellmark or Aetna in 2018. If you missed the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which ran from November 1 – December 15^th, you may still be able to enroll in an individual under-65 health insurance plan during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Since this is an involuntary loss of coverage, it enables affected individuals to enroll in a new health insurance plan during the Special Enrollment Period.

The SEP is the time outside of the yearly Open Enrollment Period (OEP) when individuals can sign up for individual under-65 health insurance due to a qualifying event. Such events include getting married, having a baby, or losing coverage. For those who will lose their coverage as of December 31, 2017, they are currently eligible for the SEP if they are able to provide their loss of coverage letter from Wellmark or Aetna as the proof document.  You will then have 60 days after these individuals lose their current coverage to enroll them onto new individual under-65 coverage.

If individuals choose to purchase alternatives to traditional under-65 coverage (such as Short Term Major Medical, Altura HealthShare or Medi-Share), they are able to enroll at anytime during the year.

Please feel free to reach out to Bob Fulwider or Konnor Myrvik with any questions, comments, or concerns. They will be reachable at the Fulwider Agency (319-643-2695) or the Wuestenberg Agency (319-627-2184). We wish you and your family a happy holiday season!