You never know when a big or small medical problem is going to happen, so it is important to have the medical coverage you need. Many people find that coverage through their jobs, but sometimes coverage needs change over time. If you need or want new coverage, you need to know when the open enrollment period is. That way you know when you’ll have the option to choose new coverage.
What is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment is the period of time when anyone is eligible to enroll in medical insurance through the Affordable Care Act. This period is the only time each year when you can enroll in coverage for the following year unless you experience a qualifying event. Qualifying events are special circumstances that can make it possible for you to seek out and get coverage throughout the year. If you don’t have a qualifying event, you will need to wait for the open enrollment period. Since open enrollment is a once-a-year thing it’s always good to plan ahead and make sure you’re prepared.
How to Choose Benefits
Once the open enrollment period begins, you need to choose which benefits you want and which insurance providers will give you what you need. You will have a variety of medical, dental, and vision providers to choose from. It can be helpful to have as much coverage as you can afford. Medical and dental coverage are especially important, but if you need glasses having vision coverage can really be a huge plus. Dental insurance can help cover treatments such as braces among other dental procedures. Vision coverage helps cover the cost of eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses. Medical coverage can help with medications, doctor appointments, and hospital visits.
How to Know What You Need
There are so many different options out there that it can be difficult to decide what coverage you actually need. If you are generally healthy, you can probably choose a more affordable plan that gives you basic coverage with a higher deductible. If you have medical problems, it will probably be worth it to invest in a plan with a higher premium. Such plans tend to have lower deductibles, which can help you afford the medical coverage that you need to take care of your day-to-day healthcare.
Each year, your employer should give you a chance to make any necessary changes to your insurance. Once you have chosen your coverage, you can rest easy knowing that you have what you need to protect your health. Choosing insurance isn’t the most fun part of anyone’s day, but it is important. You deserve to have high quality health coverage.
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