Congratulations! Welcoming a new child into your home is an exciting time with many things to consider. We're glad you're thinking about your child's health insurance. Adding to your family size is a qualifying event. This means you can enroll in or change your health insurance coverage during a special enrollment period.
Additionally, if you were ordered by a court to provide health care coverage for a dependent, you may also qualify for a special enrollment period.
Keep in mind you only have 60 days to enroll in health insurance after your baby is born or adopted or you gain a dependent through a court order. After that, you'll have to wait until open enrollment.
I don’t have health care coverage. How do I enroll?
If you don't have a health plan, you're in the right place! Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has many plans to choose from to fit your new family and budget. Let's get started.
I have a BCBSIL health plan. How do I add my new baby to my plan?
- If you enrolled directly with us online, log in to your BCBSIL account or call 1-800-477-2000.
- If you enrolled on Get Covered, The Official Health Insurance Marketplace, log in to your Marketplace account.
- If you have health care coverage through your employer, call your company's benefits or HR department.
What if I don’t qualify for special enrollment?
Depending on your income, you may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. There is no special enrollment period for those government offered coverage options – you can apply at any time.
Members of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes can enroll any month, not just during open enrollment. You can even apply for cost assistance.
