• Home
  • Special Enrollment Periods

Special Enrollment Periods

 

Residents may be able to enroll at any time through Access Health CT if they: 

  • Are an American Indian or Alaska Native
  • Qualify for HUSKY Health (Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program) 
  • Qualify for the Covered CT Program (More about the Covered CT Program)
  • Experience a Qualifying Life Event like losing HUSKY Health, losing health coverage through your job, getting married, or moving to Connecticut from another state or country.

 

A Special Enrollment Period is a special window of time outside the Open Enrollment Period when you can enroll in health and/or dental insurance coverage through Access Health CT. To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you must prove that you have a Qualifying Life Event — and you will generally have 60 days from the date of that event to contact Access Health CT to complete your application process and enroll in health and/or dental insurance coverage. 

Please note that if you qualify for Medicaid/CHIP or the Covered CT Program, or if you are an American Indian or Alaska Native, you can enroll in coverage any time of the year.



 

Qualifying Life Events 

A change in your life — like losing health coverage through your job, getting married, having a baby or moving to Connecticut — can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health and/or dental insurance coverage outside the annual Open Enrollment Period. 

 

If you have a Qualifying Life Event, your Special Enrollment Period will generally last 60 days from the date of the event. During this time, you can sign up for health and/or insurance coverage or change your plan if you already have coverage.  

Important: if there are changes to the benefits offered by your employer, including employer contributions to your health insurance premiums and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  

 


Deadlines & Verification 

  • Before You Apply: You will generally have up to 60 days from the date of your Qualifying Life Event to apply for health insurance coverage through Access Health CT.  
  • Before Coverage Can Begin: You must provide proof of your Qualifying Life Event, and you will have up to 30 days to submit those documents. You must verify your information before your coverage can begin. See below for a full list of  Qualifying Life Events and acceptable documents.
  • Other Information, If We Ask: You will generally have up to 90 days from the date you apply to provide proof of other information like your identity, residency, or immigration status (if we ask you for that information). Always respond to requests for verification documents, or else it could impact your coverage or your financial help. 

 

 

Qualifying Life Events and Verification Documents
Qualifying Life Events and Required Verification Documents
Qualifying Life Events Verification Document
Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) occurs when an individual loses health and/or dental coverage that meets the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement for having health care coverage. Examples include:
  • Losing your coverage due to job change/loss
  • Losing coverage through your employer
  • Exhaustion of COBRA coverage
  • Losing coverage through your spouse or parent
  • No longer eligible for Medicaid/HUSKY Health
  • Decertification of your health plan
  • Cancellation of employer healthcare coverage for employees or their beneficiaries
  • Cancellation or a large reduction in employer contributions toward coverage so that your share of premium does not meet federal standards
Please note: Loss of MEC does not include voluntary termination of coverage or termination by the insurer due to non-payment of monthly payments (premiums). 		Provide a coverage termination letter from the employer, HR department, or healthcare coverage administrator of your terminated coverage. Termination letters must include:
  • Your first and last name
  • An insurance coverage end date that happened or will happen within 60 days of your Access Health CT application date.
  • The last day of coverage in the termination letter must be the same as the coverage end date you list on your application.
  • Name of employer or healthcare coverage administrator
  • Name and signature of the authorized person issuing the letter
Please note: If your coverage termination letter says that you did not pay your monthly payments (premiums) or that you chose to end your coverage, you will not be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.
Gain of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) or a change in employer contributions to an HRA or QSEHRA Provide the letter from your employer, HR department, or healthcare coverage administrator that explains the gain of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) or a change in employer contributions to an HRA or QSERA.

The letter must include:
  • Your first and last name
  • Name of employer
  • Name and signature of the authorized person issuing the letter
  • Date of eligibility or change in contribution
A recent move to Connecticut from another state or country A piece of mail demonstrating your move to Connecticut:
  • Proof of your address change from another state
  • A recent utility bill from your previous address AND a utility bill from your new Connecticut residence (2 documents)
If moving from another U.S. state, proof of Minimum Essential Coverage for at least one day during the 60 days before your move is required. This is not if you are moving from another country.
Recently Married A copy of your marriage license/certificate AND proof of Minimum Essential Coverage for one day during the 60 days before your marriage (either spouse)
Becoming pregnant, giving birth, foster care, or adopting a baby
  • A letter of Certification of Pregnancy
  • A copy of your child’s birth certificate
  • A copy of adoption confirmation documents
  • A copy of foster care confirmation documents
Newly eligible for Premium Tax Credits due to decrease in household income (Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI)
  • Letter of attestation of decrease in household income [PDF]
  • Proof of Minimum Essential Coverage that was not obtained through Access Health CT within 60 days of the decrease in household income.
No longer eligible for Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) or a Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) No documents needed to verify this event.
Gain of Eligible Immigration Status or Citizenship You may need one of more of these documents, to confirm lawful presence/immigration status:
  • Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card", I-551)
  • Temporary I-551 Stamp (on passport or I-94, I-94A)
  • Immigrant Visa (with temporary I-551 language)
  • Employment Authorization Card (EAD or I-766)
  • Arrival/Departure Record (I-94 or I-94A)
  • Arrival/Departure Record in foreign passport (I-94)
  • Unexpired foreign passport
  • Country of issuance Reentry Permit (I-327)
  • Refugee travel document (I-571)
  • Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status (I-20)
  • Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (DS2019)
  • Notice of Action (I-797)

 

Download a Letter of Attestation of decrease in household income [PDF]

 

If you are a current customer and have a change in income or household information, make sure you contact Access Health CT within 30 days (More Information about reporting changes to household information). 

 

More information: