What Happens If I Missed the District of Columbia Obamacare Enrollment Deadline for 2017?

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What Happens If I Missed the District of Columbia Obamacare Enrollment Deadline for 2017?

For 2017, open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act ended on January 31. That means it’s too late for most people to use a health insurance exchange to get coverage for 2017.

If you let the ACA deadline pass you by this year, here are some things to know.

You Can Still Enroll If You Qualify for a “Special Enrollment” Period

Certain life events make you eligible to sign up for health insurance outside of open enrolllment. The circumstances under which you may qualify for special enrollment include:

moving to a new state
having a baby or adopting a child
getting married or divorced
leaving a job and losing your insurance
losing coverage under your parents’ plan
losing coverage because someone on your plan has died
losing other types of health insurance
gaining status as a member of an Indian tribe
becoming an American citizen, or
getting out of prison.

If you already have health insurance coverage through the marketplace, you may also qualify for a special enrollment period if you experience a change in income or household status that affects your eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions

To learn more, visit DC Health Link.

Enrollment Never Closes for Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

These programs are administered by states for low-income families and children, pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities, and some other adults. You can apply for Medicaid and/or CHIP through the District of Columbia's health insurance marketplace or by contacting the District of Columbia’s Medicaid office.

You Can Buy Insurance Directly From an Insurance Company or Agent at Any Time

If you buy coverage outside the health insurance marketplace, your coverage will take effect soon after you pay your first premium, but you won’t qualify for the premium subsidies available through your state’s health insurance exchange.

You May Owe a Tax Penalty Next Year

For most people who don’t have insurance in 2017, the penalty will be $695 per adult plus $347.50 per child (with a family maximum of $2,085) or 2.5% of annual family income, whichever is greater. To find out how the penalty works and what you’ll owe, see How Much Is the Obamacare Tax Penalty?

You Can Buy a Health Plan From DC Health Link During the Next Open Enrollment Period

Unless the Affordable Care Act is changed or repealed, open enrollment for 2018 will begin sometime in the fall of 2017.

District of Columbia Special Enrollment Rules for Obamacare (Affordable Care Act or ACA)

District of Columbia Obamacare