The answer will depend upon whether you are talking about group health insurance or individual health insurance. Employers have a certain degree of flexibility in establishing a waiting period before a new hire can become eligible to enroll in the company's group plan. Under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) now in effect this waiting period should not exceed 90 calendar days from your date of hire. So, this establishes a maximum waiting period under an employer based plan but the employer can choose to have a shorter waiting period.
If you are applying for individual health insurance during the open enrollment period or following a change of life status event it will depend upon when you have submitted your enrollment form. If your enrollment form is received on or before the 15th of the month your coverage should go into effect on the first of the next month (e.g. - February 10 submission would be for a March 1st effective date). If your enrollment form is received after the 15th of the month your coverage would become effective on the first of the following month (e.g. - February 18th submission would be for an April 1st effective date).
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
How long does it take to get health insurance? Well many plans offer coverage beginning on either the 15th or 1st of the next month depending on when you enroll. With the ACA in place now, you have to have a qualifying event to purchase health insurance outside the enrollment window Which begins in the fourth quarter of the year and ends shortly after the 1st quarter has begun. During that window you can apply and coverage usually will begin 1st of the year.
Regional Marketing Director, Capital Choice Financial Group,
Depending when an application is submitted will determine when health insurance will be issued. With the "unaffordable" care act or Obamacare there is no more underwriting so the policy is issued at the first of the following month when the application is submitted by the 15th of the previous month.
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If you are applying for individual health insurance during the open enrollment period or following a change of life status event it will depend upon when you have submitted your enrollment form. If your enrollment form is received on or before the 15th of the month your coverage should go into effect on the first of the next month (e.g. - February 10 submission would be for a March 1st effective date). If your enrollment form is received after the 15th of the month your coverage would become effective on the first of the following month (e.g. - February 18th submission would be for an April 1st effective date).