Outside the annual open enrollment period (February 2-October 31), you may qualify to buy or change your health insurance coverage if you experience certain life events, within 60 days in most cases.

Life Events include: getting pregnant, having a baby, adopting a baby, change in marital status, moving, losing coverage from your employer, or aging off of a parent’s health plan.

By Phone: For an immediate response, call the number on your Member Card for personalized care. Don't have your card handy? Contact numbers are available here.

When you can buy or change your health insurance all depends on the plan you qualify for.

Of course! We have Resource Center locations in Rochester and Syracuse. Visit our Resource Center portal for more details.

If you're buying or renewing health insurance for 2018, you should ask four questions before selecting a plan:​

Make sure your medications, including maintenance drugs and contraceptives, are covered by the insurer. Excellus BCBS , for example, covers more than 50 prescription contraceptives. ​

Ask your doctors if they accept the insurance you are considering.

Ask if the plan covers emergency care anywhere in the world. You may also want to inquire as to whether the plan has a telemedicine program that provides 24/7 access to a doctor by phone or video chat when you have a minor health issue and can't see your physician.

You may be eligible for financial help based on your household income and size. Or, you could qualify for the Essential Plan, for $0 or $20 a month. Use our calculator to see if you qualify.