[Mr. K]

why on earth would they continue this stupid practice of only having ‘open enrollment’ time periods? don’t people need health insurance all year? what do they do the rest of the year? what reason is there for only allowing you to purchase something only during certain months?
Only the government could come up with something as stupid as an ‘enrollment period’

I can buy car insurance any time I want

[yorkiemom]

I had to look it up because it does indeed sound stupid. They supposedly want all people insured, yet restrict when they can get it?

From healthcare.gov:
For coverage starting in 2015, the proposed Open Enrollment Period is November 15, 2014–February 15, 2015. Individuals may also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods outside of Open Enrollment if they experience certain events. (See Special Enrollment Period and Qualifying Life Event)

A time outside of the open enrollment period during which you and your family have a right to sign up for health coverage. In the Marketplace, you qualify for a special enrollment period 60 days following certain life events that involve a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or loss of other health coverage. Job-based plans must provide a special enrollment period of 30 days.

A change in your life that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in health coverage. Examples of qualifying life events are moving to a new state, certain changes in your income, and changes in your family size (for example, if you marry, divorce, or have a baby).

So people with unexpected events, like a job loss or other insurance loss can still apply within 60 days of it happening. I surmise (and guessing what liberals are 'thinking' is always dangerous) that they think this will stop people from signing up only when they have an emergency, like get diagnosed with cancer or get in a car accident.