Health insurance enrollment period extended

Here’s a message from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services has announced extended enrollment periods are available to help qualifying residents take advantage of low- or no-cost health care coverage options through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Anyone who lost coverage but missed the enrollment window still has options.

The first opportunity to enroll is available to people who experienced a qualifying life event this year, such as job loss or birth of a child. Additional special-enrollment periods are available to people who have lost off-Marketplace coverage or whose income has decreased.

To determine eligibility and review the new enrollment period options, including the Nov. 1-Dec. 15 open-enrollment period, the Health Insurance Marketplace website can be found at healthcare.gov.