Special Enrollment Period for exchange-based coverage ends on Aug. 15

The Special Enrollment Period to select a health plan on exchanges run on www.HealthCare.gov ends on Aug. 15.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the enrollment period on the federal healthcare website was being extended by three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumers who want to sign up for coverage before the end of the Special Enrollment Period can find out if they are eligible by going to www.HealthCare.gov. Those consumers have 30 days after they submit their application to choose a health plan.

The American Rescue Plan Act signed into law in March provides additional premium cost savings through www.HealthCare.gov that may lower premium costs or allow individuals to enroll in a higher-level plan at the same cost. Consumers eligible for unemployment compensation for any week during 2021 may also be eligible for additional cost savings through the exchange.

Residents in most states use the federal healthcare website to enroll in coverage. States that use their own exchanges were encouraged to also extend their enrollment periods.