What is an eligibility period?

An eligibility period is simply the period of time that you are eligible to either sign up for a new policy, change and existing policy, or a period of coverage time for a pre-existing condition. Affordable family health insurance plans are subject to the restrictions of eligibility periods. When you start a new job you have thirty days from your date of hire to sign up for health insurance for you and your family. It is typically thirty days from the date of hire that coverage begins. These thirty days is an "eligibility period". You cannot typically sign up for a new policy or make changes to an existing one until an eligibility period. When a child is born you have thirty days from the child's birth to sign them up under your existing policy.

Eligibility periods can also pertain to medical conditions. If you acquire a new medical condition within the life of your insurance policy than there are typically no restrictions of coverage of the treatment. However, if you had a preexisting condition prior to obtaining medical insurance then the insurance company may have a restriction on covering any chronic medical condition that existed prior to the eligibility period. This particularly becomes an issue if there was a lapse in coverage. A lapse in coverage is a period of time between policies when you have no insurance. It may be difficult to prove to the insurance company that your condition existed before you had a lapse in coverage. That is why it is very important that you keep detailed and accurate copies of your medical records especially if you have a chronic medical condition.

Affordable family health insurance is available if you follow the guidelines set up by the insurance company and follow the rules of the eligibility periods. All health insurance plans, HMO, PPO, EPO, POS, and traditional health insurance are subject to eligibility periods. Carefully following these periods and adhering to the guidelines will insure that you receive the maximum amount of coverage from you policy. Not following these guidelines and restrictions could lead you insurance company denying coverage for procedures or office visits. This can be a terrible taxing financial and emotional mistake for you and your family. If you are unsure how eligibility periods affect you plan or when they occur within the life of you plan then review your policy and discuss this with you insurance company. Those people who consider themselves experts in the industry highly suggest that you obtain a minimum of three free online quotes.