Special open enrollment period for your employer clients

Under California Senate Bill 78, residents who don’t have qualifying health insurance coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2020 will be subject to a tax penalty of $695 or more, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Sharp Health Plan is offering a special open enrollment period for your employer clients and their employees who previously waived or declined coverage. These employees and their eligible dependents can enroll now through Dec. 31, 2019 for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2020 — just in time for them to avoid financial penalties!

What you need to know

• We are extending this special open enrollment period to all of your employer clients, including both large and small groups.
• We will be notifying your employer clients about this special open enrollment period later this week.
• To take advantage of this special open enrollment period, your employer clients should have their eligible employees complete an enrollment application.

What your employer clients need to know

• Only employees and their dependents who previously declined coverage are eligible for this special open enrollment period. Employees who are already enrolled in a plan can’t make changes at this time.
• Eligible employees and their dependents can choose from any available Sharp Health Plan benefits currently offered by their employer.
• All eligibility requirements for enrollment in the group health plan will continue to apply.
• For groups already renewing in January, all employees and their eligible dependents are allowed to enroll in coverage under the standard open enrollment rules.

For more information about the new California law, please visit the Franchise Tax Board.