With the changes to health care over the past few years, there are only certain times when you can enroll in or change health plans.

The open enrollment period, or OEP, ends February 15, which affects most people.

Special enrollment periods, or SEPs, can include the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, some job changes, or moving out of the service area, and they allow for a 30 or 60 day change of coverage.

But if you are not enrolled by February 15 and decide you want coverage at some other point during the year, you will need a SEP or you will not be able to enroll in a qualified health care plan.

If you do not have a qualified health care plan, you may have a penalty when you file your 2015 taxes in 2016. [Read more…]