<p><em><strong>Know when you’re eligible to sign up for health benefits</strong></em></p><p>If you are employed, your employer should provide you with health-care coverage enrollment information and a deadline—usually in the fall for the upcoming year. If you have missed the deadline, normally you can’t enroll until the next annual enrollment period unless you have had a qualifying life event—such as losing coverage under your spouse’s plan after a <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/divorce" target="_blank" class="wordlink">divorce</a>. If you believe you have experienced such an event, contact your human resources or benefits department within 30 days of the event to see if you can enroll.</p><p>If you are considering enrolling in a plan through your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace, you may have missed the deadline for 2015 coverage. However, if you have a change in your life circumstances, such as getting divorced, having a child, or losing your job and your health insurance, it may trigger a <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-get-coverage-outside-of-open-enrollment/" target="_blank">special enrollment period</a> when you can sign up for coverage and avoid paying a fine. Moreover, if your income is low and meets certain guidelines, you can generally sign up for your state’s Medicaid program or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time. Click <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/" target="_blank">here</a> for more information on enrolling in Medicaid or CHIP.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo credit Shutterstock.com</span><br></p>
