The End (of Open Enrollment) is Near!

The Affordable Care Act, or what many refer to as Obamacare, has drastically changed the health insurance industry. Among the most notable changes are guaranteed acceptance regardless of pre-existing conditions, the founding of the federal and state marketplaces, help paying premiums—and open enrollment periods.

Many people who have attempted to buy individual and family insurance directly from a carrier or a marketplace in the last few years have been shocked to learn that they can no longer make this purchase at any time during the year. The Affordable Care Act mandates that most Americans select and enroll in health insurance during a select period of time, known as open enrollment. For 2016 health coverage, the open enrollment period started on November 1, 2015 and will end on January 31, 2016.

Anyone who misses this deadline who doesn’t also experience what’s known as a qualifying life event (things like marriage, job loss, birth, etc.) will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to purchase health insurance. What’s more, this coverage won’t begin until 2017. That means going an entire year without the protections that health coverage can provide for you and your family.

But there’s still time to act!

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Protect your health and wallet by enrolling in health coverage before open enrollment ends on January 31, 2016.