Young Adults More Likely to Qualify for Special Enrollment

Even though the ACA’s first Open Enrollment period has ended, the work of enrolling young adults in health insurance is not done yet, and it does not need to wait until the next round of open enrollment, starting on November 15, 2014. Many situations trigger Special Enrollment Periods, allowing consumers to purchase health insurance plans on the marketplace outside of Open Enrollment. Importantly, young people are more likely to experience these life events than other age group. This report identifies the events that trigger special enrollment periods and demonstrate how young people are systematically more likely to qualify.