I *forgot* to sign up for Health Insurance, now what?

1. If you had started an enrollment on the New York State of Health Exchange Marketplace ( https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ ) you have until April 15 ^th to get your act together and get your application completed.
2. If you haven’t started an application yet and you are CURRENTLY UNINSURED, then you are out of luck with Exchange and other Private options until the next Open Enrollment which is set to begin on 11/15/14 for an enrollment of January 1 ^st , 2015.  Sorry, no one’s special here.
3. If you are CURRENTLY INSURED you will be able to take coverage with the Exchange or other private insurance for effective dates after 4/1 as long as you can prove that you have had a Qualifying Life Event.  These are listed below:
   1.  Individual or dependent loses minimum essential coverage due to:
      1. job loss
      2. divorce
      3. death of a spouse
      4. becoming ineligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus
      5. expiration of COBRA
      6. health plan is decertified
   2. Marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption
   3. Gaining status as a citizen, national, or lawfully present individual
   4. Consumer is newly eligible or ineligible for tax credits and/or cost sharing reductions
   5. Permanent move to an area that has different health plan options
   6. Marketplace staff or contractor enrollment error
   7. Qualified Health Plan violated a provision of its contract
   8. American Indians can enroll or change plans one time per month throughout the year

Not considered a Qualifying Life Event:

1. Voluntarily dropping other health coverage
2. Being terminated for not paying your premiums
3. Losing coverage that is not minimum essential coverage, in accordance with HHS guidelines

Moral of the story:  Be more proactive next year!!!