Your Special Enrollment Period in Illinois

If you have a life event or change like losing your Medicaid coverage, having or adopting a baby, or starting a new job, you may be able to enroll in a health plan during the Special Enrollment Period.

Your Plan Options

During Special Enrollment, you can choose a new Individual and Family plan with a qualifying life event.¹

• If you're no longer eligible to renew your Medicaid benefits, we can help you find an affordable Individual and Family plan so you can stay covered.
• If you're 64+ and are no longer eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to enroll in Medicare. Learn more about your Medicare plan options.

• Losing or getting denied for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage
• Adopting a child or gaining a dependent through court-order
• The passing of a policy holder
• Moving to a new area with different plans or HMO network
• Getting married
• Turning 26 while on a family member’s policy
• Separating or divorcing your spouse
• Losing health coverage because of a job loss or change, end of COBRA coverage or other reasons²

Review a full list of qualifying events.

• A change in income or household status
• An employer offering to help with your coverage cost (through an ICHRA  or QSEHRA)
• Your health care coverage ending on a date other than December 31st of the current plan year
• Becoming a U.S. citizen³
• A health insurance company violating its contract with you
• Becoming a member of an American Indian or Alaska Native tribe³
• Experiencing an error or other issue when trying to enroll
• Having an annual individual or household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level

More Ways to Apply

How to Enroll During Special Enrollment

If you've had a life event that qualifies you to update your plan, review these next steps for your BCBSIL enrollment:

Not All Life Events Qualify for Special Enrollment

Non-qualifying events may be:

• Choosing not to get health care coverage from your job
• Travel insurance expiring
• Loss of a short-term or temporary health plan⁴
• Gaining voluntary guardianship of a dependent (not authorized by a court)
• Choosing to cancel your health plan before its renewal or end date
• Loss of state or federal health care coverage or assistance due to not supplying needed documents as proof
• Ending participation in a Medical Cost Sharing Group

You can always call us at 1-866-514-8044 or use our contact form if you have questions or need help.

¹Members of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes can apply for health care coverage any month of the year. If you qualify for Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other assistance based on your income, you do not need to enroll during the Special Enrollment Period.

²The following are not considered loss of coverage: voluntarily canceling your health insurance plan, having your plan canceled because you did not pay your premiums or because your plan did not meet the requirements set by the Affordable Care Act for Minimum Essential Coverage.

³Only for health plans bought on the Marketplace.

⁴BCBSIL does not offer temporary or short-term plans. These plans may not provide the full benefits of a BCBSIL health plan, including essential health benefits.