Congratulations! You made it through open enrollment and you now have health coverage for 2022!
The first thing you’ll want to do, if you haven’t done it already, is make sure your first premium payment is made so your coverage is in place. You might even consider putting it on autopay. Next to your mortgage or rent payment, insurance is the most important purchase your household makes. Then, become familiar with your health plan’s benefits. That way you can make the most out of your plan throughout the year. All Your Health Idaho health plans must provide you with a Summary of Benefits and Coverage. Your insurance carrier should send it shortly after you enroll in your plan. In it, you can find out which providers and hospitals are in-network, what’s considered free preventive care and the differences between a copay, a premium and deductibles. If you have questions about your plan, don’t hesitate to contact your insurance carrier directly. They’re more than happy to help!
If you missed the open enrollment period, your options for getting health coverage will be limited until next fall when the next open enrollment period begins. However, there are still some opportunities to get coverage for 2022. If you qualify for Medicaid, you can enroll through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare at any time. Idahoans with American Indian or Alaska Native status can enroll in a plan through Your Health Idaho year-round. If neither of those options apply to you, you may qualify for what’s called a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) during the year. QLEs include things like marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, a move or loss of existing coverage.
Watch this space for explanations of each of the QLEs that could enable you to enroll in coverage with an SEP before next fall’s open enrollment period.