Open Enrollment

Outside that window you need a qualifying event

A special enrollment period opens when something in your life changes in a way that affects your coverage. These windows are short, so call us as soon as one of these happens.

• Losing coverage you had through a job.

• Marriage, having a baby, or adopting a child.

• A move that gives you access to a different set of plans.

• A divorce or legal separation opens one only when it causes someone to lose coverage or to lose their status as a dependent. On its own it does not qualify.

Where your application goes

That depends on one thing: whether a premium subsidy is in play.

• If you qualify for a subsidy and you want it, your application has to go through Covered California, the state insurance exchange. The identical plan bought directly from the insurance company, off the exchange, gets no subsidy. See Do You Qualify for a Subsidy? for how that is decided.

• If you do not qualify, you can apply directly to a carrier such as Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield of California, where you may also see plans that are not sold on the exchange. We can quote across carriers so you see everything available in your county in one place.

If you qualify for a subsidy

• New to Covered California: the exchange runs a self service website, and we have an enrollment guide that makes it straightforward. Call us and we will walk through it with you.

• After you enroll, let us know so we can add you to our client list. As your agent we become your advocate for claims problems, plan selection, and insurance updates, at no cost to you. Instead of an 800 number you get a local person.

• Keep the username and password you create. You will need them to get back into the system, and once your account exists you can assign us as your agent.

• Already a Covered California client and you want a different plan: call or email us and tell us which plan you want. We will make the change and confirm it back to you.