Health Insurance and You: Free Online Education Seminar
Make sure your health insurance coverage solution fits your life and your budget.
Join us for a virtual event designed to help you understand the basics of individual and family insurance coverage. You’ll have the opportunity to talk with a licensed agent to get answers to your questions and gain a better understanding of plan options available to you.
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Which life events qualify for special enrollment?
There are several types of life events that can qualify you for a special enrollment period, including:
- Getting married
- Turning 26 years old
- Having a baby, adopting a child or placing a child for foster care
- Moving your household
- Divorce or legal separation
- Death
- Loss of coverage
Learn more about seeking coverage for health insurance outside of open enrollment.
How long can I stay on my parents’ insurance?
Up until you turn 26 years old, you can say on your parents’ health plan. If you’d like to get a plan on your own (depending on household size and income), you may qualify for premium tax credits to reduce your monthly premium and/or lower out-of-pocket costs.
Find out how to enroll for the first time if you’re 26 years old or older.
If I’m getting married or starting a family, what should I look at for coverage?
Congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life and you're taking an important step by looking for health coverage. First of all, identify your monthly budget and how much you can afford to pay each month for your premium.
Note: If you have an annual income of less than $96,000 for a family of four, you may be eligible for tax credits and cost reductions. However, if coverage is available through an employer, you may not be eligible for tax credits. Find out if you qualify for lower health insurance costs at Healthcare.gov.
Do I qualify for premium tax credits and other savings?
Potentially yes. It depends. In fact, 90% of people who apply for health insurance from the Federal Marketplace receive financial assistance. Of these people, 75% pay $50 or less per month!
Get an estimate of tax credits based on your household size and income.
Why should I get covered during open enrollment?
Health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs. You also pay less for covered in-network care because of our partnership with providers throughout our dedicated network and the Avera Health system. You receive free preventive care, including wellness exams and vaccines and, depending on your age, preventive screenings like mammography and colon tests.
Once I’m enrolled, when does my plan start?
- During general open enrollment: Open enrollment for 2023 takes place Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. When you enroll during this period through Dec. 31, your new plan starts Jan. 1 of the following calendar year. If you enroll between Dec. 31 through Jan. 15, your new plan starts Feb. 1.
- For special enrollment/qualifying life events: Your plan starts the first day of the following month after you enroll. For example, if you enroll for a plan in February, your plan will start March 1.
Do I need to enroll if I already have health insurance?
Yes. You need to re-enroll in your health insurance plan year after year. Therefore, open enrollment is a great time to ensure you still have the right plan for you and your family. For example, if you picked a high deductible plan during the previous enrollment period, but your circumstances have changed, you can update to a plan more suited to your needs.
What do I need to apply for an individual or family insurance plan?
For each applicant – individual or family member – who will be covered by the policy, make sure you have the following information:
- Home and/or mailing addresses
- Birth dates and phone numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Document information for legal immigrations
- Employer and income information for every member of your household (For example: pay stubs or W-2 forms: Wage and Tax Statements)
- An estimate of your annual household income
If you apply in person or through an agent, bring your previous year's tax return, because it will usually contain this, and other important information needed for your application.
How do I apply for special enrollment?
You must report changes within 60 days of a qualifying event.
How do I access my Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) account?
If you created a Marketplace account for a previous year, and it’s been a while since you logged in, you may have to reset your password.
- On the Marketplace login page, select “Forgot your password?”
- Check your email for a “Forgot Marketplace Password” email. (If you don’t get it, be sure to check your spam/junk mail folder.)
- Follow the email directions to create a new password for your account.
- Note: When picking a new password, be sure you don’t use an old password. If you do, you’ll get an error message saying the information you entered is invalid.
If your account is locked, it may take a few hours to unlock it. For best results, wait at least one hour after getting a password reset before logging in.
If you still have trouble logging in after resetting your password, call the Marketplace Call Center at 800-318-2596.
