Frequently Asked Question About ACA Health Insurance: Enrolling and Canceling Coverage

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. The ACA allows for open enrollment every year, during which people can sign up for health insurance coverage. However, question are raised about trying to figure out if there’s a way to not pay premiums during time abroad and just pay for coverage while you’re in the US.

Enrolling in ACA Health Insurance

ACA health insurance plans can be purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace or directly from an insurance company. During the open enrollment period, people can shop for plans and choose the one that best meets their needs and budget. Open enrollment for 2024 coverage starts on November 1, 2023 and ends on January 15, 2024.

Canceling ACA Health Insurance

ACA health insurance can be canceled at any time. However, if you cancel your plan, then you will not be able to enroll in a new plan until the next open enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Qualifying life events include:

Marriage
Birth or adoption of a child
Moving to a new state
Losing your job
Getting divorced

If you are planning on spending time abroad, you may not have a qualifying life event to cancel your ACA health insurance. This means that you will have to continue paying premiums on your plan even if you are not using it.

Other Options

If you are only going to be abroad for a short period of time, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance can help cover the costs of medical expenses, lost luggage, and other unexpected events.

You may also want to consider signing up for a catastrophic health plan. Catastrophic health plans have lower premiums than traditional health insurance plans. However, they also have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Catastrophic health plans are only available to people under the age of 30 or who have a qualifying hardship.

ACA Health Insurance: Special Enrollment Periods

If you have a qualifying life event, such as losing your job or moving to a new state, you may be able to enroll in an ACA health insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period. Special enrollment periods are typically 60 days long.

If you are not sure if you have a qualifying life event, you can contact the Health Insurance Marketplace for more information.

How to Avoid Paying Premiums When Abroad

Based on the information we gathered, there is no way to legitimately avoid paying premiums during time abroad and only pay for coverage while in the US. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize the cost of your premiums.

Shop around for plans. There are a variety of ACA health insurance plans available, so it is important to shop around and find the plan that best meets your needs and budget.
Consider a catastrophic health plan. Catastrophic health plans have lower premiums than traditional health insurance plans. However, they also have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Catastrophic health plans are only available to people under the age of 30 or who have a qualifying hardship.
Enroll in a payment plan. If you cannot afford to pay your premiums upfront, you can enroll in a payment plan. This will allow you to spread the cost of your premiums over 12 months.

Conclusion

ACA health insurance is an important part of the US healthcare system. It provides coverage to millions of Americans who would otherwise be uninsured. If you are planning on spending time abroad, you should carefully consider your health insurance options. You may want to purchase travel insurance, sign up for a catastrophic health plan, or enroll in a payment plan.