Special Enrollment: Losing Job-Related Health Plans

If you’re under age 65, you may be able to enroll in an Individual and Family health plan. Our plans have three levels of coverage, also known as metallic levels. They all offer the same essential health benefits but have a range of monthly payments, deductibles and copays.

Learn about your Individual and Family options

Deadlines

You'll have 60 days, counting weekends and holidays, from the date you lost coverage to enroll in an Individual and family plan. If you know your job will be changing, you can buy a health plan up to 60 days before losing coverage.

Because you've lost your health insurance coverage, you'll need to send in required documents showing your life event date. This could be a company letter or other job records.

Financial Help

Depending on your income, you might be able to get a premium tax credit, or subsidy. Premium tax credits help you pay less each month for your plan. 

Medicare is first offered when you're about to turn 65. It's made up of four parts: Part A, which you get when you sign up for Social Security. Then, you can then buy more coverage to build on to your Part A benefits.

If you're about to turn 65 (three months or less from your 65th birthday) and just lost your job, you can enroll in Medicare Part A. If you'd like, you can also choose to buy more coverage. If you're older than 65 and just lost your job, you're still able to enroll in Medicare but have different deadlines.

Learn how Medicare works

Deadlines

• If you're about to turn 65 or are newly 65: You can enroll in Medicare as soon as your 65th birthday is three months away. After you turn 65, you'll have three more months to enroll in Medicare and choose your coverage. This means you'll have seven full months to enroll.
• If you're 65+ and have passed the Initial Enrollment Period: Maybe you've already passed the Initial Enrollment Period when you turn 65 - that's okay. You have 8 months after you lose your job-based insurance or stop working to enroll in Medicare.

Financial Help

When you're going through the enrollment process, you'll learn if you can qualify for lower prescription costs.

You might be eligible for Medicaid, the Medicaid-Medicare dual plan, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other assistance.

Learn more about your eligibility requirements

BCBSIL has 2 options that may be right for you:

Blue Cross Community Health Plans^SM

Blue Cross Community MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid Plan)^SM

Deadlines

If you qualify for Medicaid, you can apply at any time. 

How to Enroll

You can enroll in a new Medicaid plan online or call 1-877-912-8880 to speak with our Illinois Enrollment Services team.