July 28, 2016
With Land of Lincoln officially announcing the cancellation of all health insurance plans on October 1st (including all individual, family and group plans) many are wondering if this is the new norm. You buy a plan, pay the premiums for the better part of a year, only to receive a notice that the carrier is dissolving your particular coverage. We've seen proof of this, as many of those who purchased Land of Lincoln plans are the very people who lost coverage in late 2015 when Blue Cross announced the termination of large-network PPO plans.
If you're one of the tens of thousands who will be affected by the Land of Lincoln health insurance cancellations, please know that we feel and share your frustration. In the spirit of keeping you in-the-know, here is some information that can help those affected by the change.
Official Cancellation Dates
Land of Lincoln health and medical insurance plans will be dissolved on October 1st 2016, including all individual and family policies, as well as group and employee health plans. If this change will affect you, it is important that you take note of the limited enrollment dates to prevent any inadvertent gaps in coverage. A health insurance agent can help with this transition, in addition to showing you a wide range of options when you're ready to select a new plan.
Ensuring Coverage on October 1st
In light of the circumstances, those losing their Land of Lincoln coverage can enroll in a new plan under Special Enrollment. To ensure that your new coverage takes effect on the first day of October, you will need to report your loss of coverage to the Marketplace between August 2nd 2016 and September 30th 2016. Again, this is something that a licensed agent can assist with to prevent any enrollment issues, errors or delays.
Signing Up After October 1st
If you're losing coverage and do not report the change to the marketplace by September 30th 2016, your enrollment dates will run from October 1st to November 29th. Keep in mind, however, that your new plan will not take effect until the first day of November. The new system of healthcare reform does not allow much wiggle room when it comes to missing deadlines. If you're affected by this, or know someone who will be, please share these important dates.
Expert Assistance with New & Cancelled Plans
Whether you're one of our neighbors in the Lisle /Naperville area, in the city of Chicago or located elsewhere throughout Illinois, Premier can help make the transition into a new plan quick, easy and accurate. To learn more about the Land of Lincoln coverage cancellations or any other health insurance-related inquiry, call our Lisle IL health insurance agency at 800-369-0287 to speak with an agent. You can also contact us by e-mail thorough our website's SSL-secured contact page.