04.23.2021 / Reporters Note

Reporters Note – More chances to get covered! Special enrollment period extended until August 15, 2021.

April 23, 2021 

MEDIA AVAILABILITY – To speak with Cheryl Fish-Parcham, Director of Access Initiatives, about the extended special enrollment period, please contact Lisa Holland, lholland@familiesusa.org.  

The federal government has extended open enrollment in healthcare.gov to make it easy for consumers affected by COVID-19 to sign up for health insurance. Consumers now have until August 15, 2021 (the previous deadline was May 15, 2021) to get coverage or change to a plan that better suits their current needs. In addition, people who newly apply or update their applications may qualify for more help paying for coverage under the American Rescue Plan Act. 

This new deadline will ensure that people who lost jobs or had changes in their incomes still have an opportunity to get covered. Many states that have their own marketplaces also have enrollment opportunities explained on their websites. 

For more information, please check out Families USA’s updated consumer fact sheet in English and Spanish.