Sometimes life throws you a curve. No matter how well you plan for your health insurance needs, those needs can change. A birth, an adoption, a change in your marital status, the loss of a job can leave you needing more, or different, coverage. Fortunately, you do not have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to add or modify your health insurance.

Qualifying events allow you to update your health insurance, whether you obtain it through an employer, buy it for yourself, or get it through the health exchanges (ie. under Obamacare). The most common reasons are adding a family member, having a dependent gain their own insurance, or losing insurance that was offered by an employer.

Note that an illness does not count as a qualifying event. If you find yourself wishing you had more coverage, or a different deductible/co-payment plan following a diagnosis, you will still have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to examine your options. While no one can predict that they will fall ill, you should consider the possibility when selecting a plan. Remember that an independent insurance agent can help you evaluate your options.

If you’d like to know more about health insurance options in Lombard, Illinois and surrounding communities, contact Steve Wilk Insurance.