With many people in Michigan out of work at the moment, the director of the Department of Insurance and Financial services, Anita Fox, wants people to know their options.
“If you lose health insurance right now, you don’t have to wait for open enrollment,” director of the Department of Insurance and Financial services Anita Fox said.
To partake in the Affordable Care Act coverage, you provide some information here to see if you qualify for a special enrollment period.
“There’s some situations where you can have a special enrollment period. That may be job loss. Or lowering of your income,” Fox said.
That may allow you to get certain tax credits or qualify for health coverage during this time. While your insurance company through your employer may offer extending benefits for quite some time, Fox says it is often more affordable to enroll into an Affordable Care Act plan.
To qualify you need to provide a few things.
“You’ll have to get a certificate of credible coverage, which can be obtained for your insurance company when you lose your coverage,” Fox said.
You don't have to wait until you are unemployed to start considering coverage, either. Fox says you can start looking into things as soon as 60 days before you are unemployed.
After you are unemployed, you have 60 days to qualify in special enrollment
If you have questions, you can contact the department toll free at 877-999-6442.
