2021 Special Enrollment Period Access Extended to August 15 on HealthCare.gov for Marketplace Coverage

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Published: 03.29.2021

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending access to the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) until August 15 – giving consumers additional time to take advantage of new savings through the American Rescue Plan. This action provides new and current enrollees an additional three months to enroll or re-evaluate their coverage needs with increased tax credits available to reduce premiums.

As a result of the American Rescue Plan, additional savings will be available for consumers through HealthCare.gov starting April 1. These savings aim to do the following:

• decrease premiums for many, by approximately $50 per person per month and $85 per policy per month.
• one out of four enrollees will be able to upgrade to a higher plan category that offers better out of pocket costs at the same or lower premium compared to what they're paying today.
• consumers who are eligible and enroll under the SEP will be able to select a plan with coverage that could start as soon as the first month after plan selection.
• current enrollees will be able to change to any plan available to them in their area. To take advantage of the SEP, current enrollees should review their application and make changes, if needed, to their current information and submit their application in order to receive an updated eligibility result.

Beginning in July on HealthCare.gov, consumers who have received or have been determined eligible to receive unemployment compensation for any week during 2021 may be able to get another increase in savings when enrolling in new Marketplace coverage or updating their existing Marketplace application and enrollment. These savings are in addition to the increased savings available to consumers on HealthCare.gov starting April 1.

For details, visit HHS Announcement of 2021 Special Enrollment Period:
2021 Special Enrollment Period Access Extended to August 15 on HealthCare.gov for Marketplace Coverage ( HHS.gov)