EVENT SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD (SEP) 
Requirements for individual and family plans (ACA/GF/GM)
Special enrollment event | Event notification timeframe | Individual eligible to enroll in coverage or be added to existing policy/certificate | Coverage effective date | Documentation Requirement* |
INCREASE OR DECREASE IN PROJECTED ANNUAL INCOME FOR 2016 OR CHANGE TO CURRENT MONTH’S INCOME | ||||
Newly ineligible for subsidy | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Proof from CMS of subsidy eligibility change |
ADD OR REMOVE APPLICANT OR NON-APPLICANT HOUSEHOLD MEMBER LISTED ON APPLICATION | ||||
Marriage, including common law | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual, spouse and all dependents | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Marriage certificate, Common law affidavit (if applicable) |
Domestic Partnership | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual and dependents, domestic partner and domestic partner’s dependents | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Certification of Domestic Partnership form |
Birth | Within 60 days of event | Individual, spouse and all dependents, including newborn | The date of the birth | Birth certificate, letter from the hospital, or medical records |
Adoption/foster care | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual, spouse and all dependents, including newly gained dependent | The date of the adoption, placement for adoption, or placement in foster care. | Adoption or foster care documentation |
Legal guardianship | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual, spouse and all dependents, including newly gained dependent | The date of the legal guardianship | Legal guardianship documentation |
Court ordered coverage | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals named in court order | The date of the required court ordered coverage | Court order |
PERMANENT MOVE | ||||
Access to qualified health plan due to a permanent move | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who have had prior coverage and make a permanent move, giving the member access to a new QHP | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Proof of old residency and new residency (e.g. old drivers license or mail from prior address and from new address); Release from incarceration is not eligible for SEP.** |
LOSS OF OTHER HEALTH COVERAGE | ||||
Death of a policyholder/ certificate holder | Within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Death certificate or obituary, letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Dependent turning 26 | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual who lost coverage due to turning 26 | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Dependent 19-25 | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individual being removed from parent’s contract between the ages of 19-25 | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
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Special enrollment event | Event notification timeframe | Individual eligible to enroll in coverage or be added to existing policy/certificate | Coverage effective date | Documentation Requirement* |
Divorce/dissolution of domestic partnership | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Spouse and dependents being removed due to divorce | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Divorce decree or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Exhaustion of COBRA or Continuation Coverage | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | COBRA termination letter or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Loss of Medicaid or Hawk-I eligibility (IA) or CHIP (SD) | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Notification of loss of eligibility and coverage |
Policyholder or certificate holder enrolls in Medicare | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Copy of Medicare card of eligible individual or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Termination of employment or reduction in hours | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Letter from employer or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Return from military service | 60 days prior to event and 60 days from date of event | Individual returning from military service and his/her spouse and dependents | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Discharge papers or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier (i.e. Tricare) |
CHANGE IN IMMIGRATION STATUS OR CITIZENSHIP | ||||
Gained U.S. Citizenship | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who gained citizenship | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Proof of US citizenship |
Obtain Legal Immigration Status | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who gained legal immigration status | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Lawful immigration documents |
Changes to available employer coverage | ||||
Loss of group coverage | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Letter from employer or letter of loss of coverage from prior carrier |
Employer renewal date is outside of an annual open enrollment period for the Individual Health Plan market | 60 days prior to event and within 60 days of event | Individuals who lost coverage | Receipt date between the 1st and 15th of the month, first of the month following receipt date. Receipt date between the 16th and the end of the month, first of the second month following receipt date. | Letter from employer |
* Documentation Requirement — In addition to the documents listed, an Application (new business) or Contract Change Form (existing members) is required.
**Proof of prior coverage will be required in addition to current documentation requirement.
NOTE: At this time, coverage effective dates will continue to follow the rules already in place.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Confidential and Proprietary – Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
03/16 #11635