FAQs – Receiving Health Insurance after Open-Enrollment period

Question: What sort of “special circumstance” would allow me to change my plan during the year or to enroll outside of the open enrollment period?

Answer: Enrollment outside of the open enrollment period requires Special Enrollment Period eligibility. In order to enroll in a health plan during a special enrollment period, you must have a qualifying life event.

Question: What is a qualifying life event?

Answer: Examples of Qualifying Life Events include the following:

• Marriage
• Moving to the District of Columbia
• Birth or adoption of a child/dependent
• A change in eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions, or the amount of premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions, if already enrolled in a DC Health Link plan
  • Losing existing health insurance coverage due to:
  • Job loss
  • Divorce
  • Changes in eligibility for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Expiration of COBRA coverage
  • Health plan being cancelled
    • Not enrolling during the open enrollment period was unintentional, involuntary, or errors occurred as a result of a DC Health Link employee, or the enrollment error was the result of the results of misconduct by someone providing enrollment assistance, or an insurance company representative.

Question: How long is the special enrollment period open?

Answer: Special enrollment periods typically last 60 days after the date of the qualifying event.

Question: Who should I contact for more information or to see if I qualify for a special enrollment period?

Answer: DC Health Link Customer Service at (855) 532-5465