Coverage Start Date Explained (2024)

By GetInsured|2020-06-19T11:04:31-04:00Friday, November 14, 2014|

Basic Explanation

You’ve pressed Send on your health insurance enrollment application and paid your premium. Now you’re covered, right?

Maybe, maybe not.

Your health insurance coverage start date—also called your plan’s “effective date”—is the day your insurance company will begin helping to pay for your medical expenses. Before that date, they won’t. In most cases, your effective date isn’t immediate. In fact, depending on when you sign up for health insurance, your effective date could be more than a month away. The day your health insurance goes into effect depends on which half of the month you buy your plan.

Expert Advice About Coverage Start Dates

Here’s a simple explanation of how coverage start dates work in most states.

During an open enrollment period:

  1. If you enroll in a plan between the 1st and 15th of the month, and pay your premium by the due date, your coverage will start thefirst day of the next month.
  2. If you buy a plan between the 16th and the end of the month, you have to skip a month, and your coverage won’t start until the 1st day of themonth after next month—meaning the second following month.

For example, if you bought a plan on January 3, 2015, you’d be covered starting February 1, 2015. If you bought a plan on January 16, your effective date would be March 1, 2015.

If you qualify for aspecial enrollment periodoutside of open enrollment, the effective dates generally work the same way.After open enrollment ends, you can still buy health insurance if you have aqualifying event, a change of life circ*mstances such as a divorce or a move to another state. So if you buy a plan on May 1, expect your coverage to start on June 1. If you buy your plan on May 16 (or any time after the 15th of the month), your coverage start date most likely won’t be until July 1.

Yup. You guessed it. There are a couple of exceptions here, too.

  1. If you have a new baby, whether by birth, adoption, or placement, any plan you buy on the marketplace will have an effective date starting the day the baby is born or you become the child’s legal guardian.
  2. If you have to switch insurance plans because you get married or you lose your job, your new insurance company must cover you on the first day of the next month, no matter when you sign up for coverage.

What else you need to know

Remember, for your coverage start date to take effect, you’ll need to do two things: Complete your enrollment form and pay your first month’s premium. Only after you’ve done both—enrolled and made your first payment—will your insurance kick in. It’s never a bad idea to call your insurance company just to be sure everything is in order, and to confirm the day your coverage will go into effect.

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Coverage Start Date Explained (2024)

FAQs

Coverage Start Date Explained? ›

Your health insurance coverage start date—also called your plan's “effective date”—is the day your insurance company will begin helping to pay for your medical expenses. Before that date, they won't. In most cases, your effective date isn't immediate.

What does coverage start date mean? ›

Coverage Start Date . Means the date when the coverage of the program begins and will be two days after date of purchase of program.

What is the start date of an insurance policy? ›

Your insurance policy actually has two important dates noted on the declarations page: the effective date and the date of issue. The first is the day coverage starts, but the second is the day the insurance company creates your policy. While these can be the same day, they might not be.

What is the difference between the effective date and the start date of insurance? ›

The effective date is the date in which a person's coverage under an insurance policy begins for that year or period—in other words, when coverage starts. It typically applies when a person begins a new job, makes changes to their benefits during open enrollment, or experiences a qualifying event.

What is the meaning of date coverage? ›

Coverage dates are those that comprise the subject time period covered by the archival materials. Normally, the subject dates are the same as the inclusive dates. However, if the dates are different, and that difference is significant, use the coverage dates as appropriate.

Is coverage date the expiration date? ›

In summary, the Expiry Date in an insurance policy is the date when the policy's coverage ends. It is essential for policyholders to be aware of this date to manage their insurance needs effectively and ensure uninterrupted protection.

What is the difference between start date and effective date? ›

An effective date is the date on which a contract, policy, or other agreement goes into effect. A start date is the date on which something begins. The main difference between an effective date and a start date is that an effective date is typically set in advance, while a start date may be more flexible.

What is the start date of a policy called? ›

The Inception Date is a fundamental term in the field of insurance, marking the commencement of coverage under an insurance policy. The definition of 'Inception Date' refers to the specific date and time when an insurance policy becomes effective and the insurer's responsibility to cover certain risks begins.

What is the start date and end date of a policy? ›

It represents the start and end dates of the insurance contract, dictating the duration of coverage and the obligations and benefits associated with the policy. The policy period refers to the specific duration during which an insurance policy is in effect and provides coverage to the policyholder.

What is the date an insurance plan begins? ›

Here's a simple explanation of how coverage start dates work in most states. During an open enrollment period: If you enroll in a plan between the 1st and 15th of the month, and pay your premium by the due date, your coverage will start the first day of the next month.

What is the risk start date of insurance? ›

Generally, the risk coverage commences from the date of acceptance of the plan or the receipt date of the 1st premium in full, whichever comes later.

What is the difference between policy date and effective date? ›

When your insurer sends over your new policy, the date of issue will reflect the day your policy was created (May 30th), whereas the effective date will be your move-in date and hence the start of your coverage (June 30th).

What is the date of the insurance policy? ›

The expiration date refers to the day your insurance coverage ends, after which your policy is no longer in force, and you are no longer protected against potential risks or financial losses. It is a critical term to understand when discussing insurance policies.

What are coverage dates? ›

Answer: The coverage date reflects the date your coverage level changed; for example, the date you went from individual to family coverage. The plan effective date is the date your enrollment in that benefit plan went into effect.

What is an example of effective date of coverage? ›

Example: An employee is hired on April 15 in an agency which requires one full month of employment before coverage becomes effective. The first date of eligibility is June 1. The employee applies for coverage on June 10. The effective date of coverage is July 1.

What is the meaning of cover date? ›

The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing.

What does period of coverage mean? ›

A coverage period refers to the span of time during which an insurance policy provides protection to the policyholder. It begins on the effective date of the policy and ends on the expiration date. For example, a typical home or auto insurance policy usually has a coverage period of one year.

What is initial coverage period? ›

Initial coverage period: After you meet your deductible, your plan will help pay for your covered prescription drugs. Your plan will pay some of the cost, and you will pay a copayment or coinsurance. How long you stay in the initial coverage period depends on your drug costs and your plan's benefit structure.

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