Covered California extends agent assisted consumer enrollment until February 6

While open enrollment for individual and family insurance ends January 31, 2016, Covered California is granting Certified Insurance Agents the ability to enroll consumers in health plans until February 6. Covered California sent out an Agent Alert notifying Certified Insurance Agents that they can still help consumers who missed the January 31^st deadline to enroll in health insurance for 2016 without a qualifying event for a Special Enrollment Period.

Covered California open enrollment extension

This week, high numbers of consumers will attempt to get assistance with enrollment, but will not be able to get enrolled in time. In the face of stiffer penalties this year, Covered California is committed to helping all consumers who attempted to find help cross the enrollment finish line.

Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage with a Covered California Health Plan ends on Sunday, January 31, 2016. As of Monday, February, 1, 2016 consumers must report a life event that qualifies them for a special enrollment period if they wish to enroll.

However, between February 1 and February 6 consumers may seek assistance from Certified Insurance Agents to complete their Open Enrollment application. Agents will have the ability to complete and submit consumer applications for coverage effective March 1, 2016 by reporting a “Other – Final Plan Selection for Open Enrollment” qualifying life event. – Covered California Agent Alert

Certified Insurance Agents will have to follow special procedures when enrolling consumers after the January 31^st deadline in order for the enrollment to be effective for a March 1^st start date. Covered California is treating the February 1^st through the 6^th enrollment as a Special Enrollment Period. Agents can assist consumers with either starting a new application or completing an existing application where the health plan has not been selected. In either event, the agent must make certain selections and enter special text in order for the post-open enrollment application to be considered valid.

Covered California has created a special Job Aid to guide agents with these special enrollment titled, “JOB AID: CROSSING THE FINISH LINE FOR AGENTS”.

Special Enrollment Period

From Feb 1st, 2016 until the next Open Enrollment period, consumers may only enroll in a plan or change their current plan if they experience a Qualifying Life Event that triggers a Special Enrollment.

• To help consumers “Cross the Finish Line” into enrollment, Covered California will allow Agents to assist consumers process a Special Enrollment application immediately so that the consumer can pick a plan to complete their enrollment.
• Agents will have access to complete these applications from February 1st to February 6th.
• Special Enrollment Processing for Agents
• Agents processing applications on behalf of consumers during the Special Enrollment period will see new fields displayed on the Application Signature page requiring entry of a qualifying life event. – Crossing The Finish Line For Agents

Consumers will not be able to start an application for open enrollment after January 31^st. Only designated enrollers such as Certified Insurance Agents can complete the special post-open enrollment applications from February 1^st through February 6^th.