What is “Open Enrollment”?
Open Enrollment is when most, but not all, people must enroll in or renew their marketplace health insurance plan at CoverME.gov. Open Enrollment happens between November 1 and January 15 each year. When you enroll before December 15, your coverage will begin January 1st. Any enrollments completed between December 15 and January 15 will have a February 1st coverage start date.
Certain life events, such as losing health coverage, having a baby or adopting a child, moving to Maine, or getting married, might trigger a Special Enrollment Period or SEP.
There is a detailed list of Special Enrollment Period life changes on the back of this flyer. Be aware, some life changes need supporting documents.
CoverME.gov offers steps to follow if you think you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
If you lose your health insurance because of unpaid premiums or voluntarily dropping COBRA does not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. If you are having trouble paying for your health insurance we can discuss your options with you but call us before voluntarily dropping your coverage.
Some people can enroll in health coverage at ANY time!
You can enroll in a health insurance plan at any time in the year if you are:
- Eligible for MaineCare (Medicaid) or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
- A small business owner who wants to offer employee coverage
- A Native American or Alaska Native
Download this flyer for helpful tips when applying for coverage at CoverME.gov
You must act quickly!
In most cases you have only 60 days after the life change to sign up for marketplace health insurance through CoverME.gov. Research available plans using the Plan Compare Tool here: https://www.coverme.gov/shop/compare-plans-find-providers
