Bulletin, April 2, 2021, Voluntary Extension of Special Enrollment Period for Products Offered Outside the Federal Marketplace

​Last Updated: April 2, 2021

Date: April 2, 2021 
To: All Insurers Authorized to Write Health Insurance in Wisconsin
From: Mark V. Afable, Commissioner of Insurance
Subject: Voluntary Extension of Special Enrollment Period for Products Offered Outside the Federal Marketplace​

 Bulletin20210402SEPExtension.pdf

On January 28, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order reopening the HealthCare.gov marketplace to permit individuals to enroll in comprehensive health insurance coverage. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the federal marketplace would reopen for a three-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) beginning February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021. In March, President Biden announced an extension to this SEP through August 15, 2021.¹

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) is encouraging insurers offering qualified health plans that have implemented a parallel SEP to provide an extension through August 15, 2021. If an issuer has already offered a SEP for their off-exchange plans, they are asked to submit a simple letter confirming extension of the off-exchange SEP be sent to ociratesforms@wisconsin.gov.

Any questions concerning this bulletin should be directed to Sarah Smith at Sarah.Smith2@wisconsin.gov.