Anonymous wrote:OP back- apparently I CAN sign up for a plan starting 1/1/24 - I don't want to spread misinformation.... maybe brokers are telling me 2/1 only for their own interest, I don't know...UGH SO CONFUSING

Out of curiosity, what state are you in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t start til 1/14 and I just realized this. This means I’m uninsured from 1/1-1/14; I’m uncomfortable with that. (We switched policies) anything I can do?

The new year’s first pay period starts Jan 14 , but are you sure about when your old coverage ends and new coverage begins?

The government would not arrange for every fed switching plans to be without insurance for two weeks!

They're not switching between fed plans. They're switching from the non-fed's employer plan to the fed's plan.

OP back- apparently I CAN sign up for a plan starting 1/1/24 - I don't want to spread misinformation.... maybe brokers are telling me 2/1 only for their own interest, I don't know...UGH SO CONFUSING

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Did you check directly with the health insurance company to confirm the last date of coverage?

I’m a new Fed (started new job late 2023) and thanks to this thread, realized my new health plan I selected during open enrollment isn’t effective until 1/14/24. My (non-Fed) husband called the insurance company that he unenrolled from during his own open enrollment, and they confirmed their coverage ends on 1/13/24.

This makes much more sense than what Op has suggested.

What about what I suggested doesn't make sense? My plan ends 12/31 - I really wish it ended 1/13 (and am glad for PP theirs does!) but unfortunately I'm out of luck, not confused. I wish I were just confused...

OP back - my coverage from my private insurer ends 12/31.

I cannot get a ACA plan for a month (which is what I was thinking yesterday) b/c I would have had to do that by 12/15 for a 1/1 start date, and I just found out yesterday.

I can potentially get a gap plan which is medically underwritten, but spouse doesn't appear to qualify, and he's a key person I'd like covered...

So, might just have to wing it or just cover me and the little one, which I suppose is better than nothing. I'm very annoyed with myself for not noticing this sooner.

Anonymous wrote:NP. Did you check directly with the health insurance company to confirm the last date of coverage?

I’m a new Fed (started new job late 2023) and thanks to this thread, realized my new health plan I selected during open enrollment isn’t effective until 1/14/24. My (non-Fed) husband called the insurance company that he unenrolled from during his own open enrollment, and they confirmed their coverage ends on 1/13/24.

This makes much more sense than what Op has suggested.

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t start til 1/14 and I just realized this. This means I’m uninsured from 1/1-1/14; I’m uncomfortable with that. (We switched policies) anything I can do?

The new year’s first pay period starts Jan 14 , but are you sure about when your old coverage ends and new coverage begins?

The government would not arrange for every fed switching plans to be without insurance for two weeks!

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you get cobra if from the old insurance if needed? It is effective retroactively…(ie you can pay for cobra if you end up needing it)

I don’t think Cobra applies if you voluntarily switched health plans. It’s not a life qualifying event.

Can’t you get cobra if from the old insurance if needed? It is effective retroactively…(ie you can pay for cobra if you end up needing it)

Yes, this happened to me when I switched over. Just lay low for two weeks. Try to not go any places, if not necessary. The two weeks will go fast, but I do recall being concerned.

NP. Did you check directly with the health insurance company to confirm the last date of coverage?

I’m a new Fed (started new job late 2023) and thanks to this thread, realized my new health plan I selected during open enrollment isn’t effective until 1/14/24. My (non-Fed) husband called the insurance company that he unenrolled from during his own open enrollment, and they confirmed their coverage ends on 1/13/24.

I ran into this problem with my wife. I wanted to move her over to my plan, but her open season date was, oddly, November 1, whereas fine as a fed was in January.

I'm not sure I would have noticed the problem in the OP's situation, but with a two month gap, I noticed it in mine.

We ended up carrying both plans for a year. It didn't cost much to do so, since her employer paid 100% of the premiums, but coordination of care between two health insurance companies made things complicated. And there were weird side effects. Her plan was high deductible, and after being added to my plan, her plan was still primary for her. But, because she was also covered by my non-HDHP, she lost the the ability to contribute to an HSA.

And because there were some health issues that year, insurance reimbursement was a mess for providers. It took over a year to get some of the claims and reimbursements sorted out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look up Short term health insurance.

It's too late for that. She wouldn't be able to quickly get a policy that would cover anything.

I think she should be able to get a short term plan that excludes pre-existing conditions. It wouldn't cover her if she had a heart attack (because they would probably say it was due to pre-existing heart disease) but it would cover a fall or accident. It might also cover some illnesses. Probs worth looking into.

It's still open season on the ACA so you could buy insurance for yourself in Jan MD ACA is advertising that if you sign up by 12/31 you can be covered Jan 1 (although that's not how I understood it.)

Also worth asking your HR if it's possible to change your drop date and still have coverage for Jan on your employer plan. Employers may have leeway that you wouldn't have as an individual.

Thanks all - I think I will do a one-month plan if my employer will not grant me leeway with extending my current insurance (I do not think this sounds super likely but will try.)

My mistake clearly, but seems like have to be a lot of other people in the same boat.

Your employer probably can't change it. Legally, at least. The tax benefits that come with employer-provided group health plans come with legal and regulatory strings attached-- including the restrictions on only allowing changes for qualifying life events.

No one really checks that, though, so you might find find someone in HR willing to do something they shouldn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look up Short term health insurance.

It's too late for that. She wouldn't be able to quickly get a policy that would cover anything.

I think she should be able to get a short term plan that excludes pre-existing conditions. It wouldn't cover her if she had a heart attack (because they would probably say it was due to pre-existing heart disease) but it would cover a fall or accident. It might also cover some illnesses. Probs worth looking into.

It's still open season on the ACA so you could buy insurance for yourself in Jan MD ACA is advertising that if you sign up by 12/31 you can be covered Jan 1 (although that's not how I understood it.)

Also worth asking your HR if it's possible to change your drop date and still have coverage for Jan on your employer plan. Employers may have leeway that you wouldn't have as an individual.

Thanks all - I think I will do a one-month plan if my employer will not grant me leeway with extending my current insurance (I do not think this sounds super likely but will try.)

My mistake clearly, but seems like have to be a lot of other people in the same boat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look up Short term health insurance.

It's too late for that. She wouldn't be able to quickly get a policy that would cover anything.

I think she should be able to get a short term plan that excludes pre-existing conditions. It wouldn't cover her if she had a heart attack (because they would probably say it was due to pre-existing heart disease) but it would cover a fall or accident. It might also cover some illnesses. Probs worth looking into.

It's still open season on the ACA so you could buy insurance for yourself in Jan MD ACA is advertising that if you sign up by 12/31 you can be covered Jan 1 (although that's not how I understood it.)

Also worth asking your HR if it's possible to change your drop date and still have coverage for Jan on your employer plan. Employers may have leeway that you wouldn't have as an individual.