A TRUSTED INDEPENDENT HEALTH INSURANCE GUIDE SINCE 1999.
Speak with a licensed insurance agent 866-553-3223
Speak with a licensed insurance agent 866-553-3223
A TRUSTED INDEPENDENT HEALTH INSURANCE GUIDE SINCE 1999.
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effective date

Infographic regarding effective dates

What is the effective date?

The effective date is the date your insurance coverage commences. In most cases, this will always be the first of a future month, although a newborn baby or newly adopted child can have coverage retroactive to the date of birth or adoption.

Here's more about how effective dates work when you enroll in a health plan through the exchange.

In most cases, employer-sponsored coverage will be effective the first of the month following your enrollment, or the first of the coming plan year if you enroll or make a plan change during your employer's open enrollment period.

Similarly, individual market coverage will generally be effective the first of the month after you enroll during a special enrollment period, or on January 1 or February 1 if you enroll during the annual open enrollment period. For enrollments submitted during special enrollment periods, state-run Marketplaces previously had some flexibility on effective dates. But the rules have been standardized nationwide as of 2025.

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