The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a federal law that provides health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. Open enrollment is the period during which individuals can enroll in or change their health insurance plans. It is important for surrogacy journeys because it allows surrogates to choose insurance policies that cover surrogacy.
Under the ACA, any U.S. citizen or permanent resident can apply for major medical insurance as long as they do so during open enrollment, and premiums are the same no matter what pre-existing conditions they have. Surrogates, even if pregnant from their surrogacy, can sign up for this kind of insurance during their state’s open enrollment period. If you learn that your health insurance or maternity coverage does not include a surrogate pregnancy, look for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan on the marketplace during open enrollment.
ACA open enrollment is a crucial period during surrogacy journeys because it provides surrogates and intended parents the opportunity to choose a plan that will cover a surrogate pregnancy, and this may only be available during open enrollment. It's important to begin research as soon as possible to determine if the surrogate's current plan is surrogacy-friendly and if the ACA plan alternatives are friendly or friendlier. As we discussed in another article, some plans have liens that should be avoided, as they will raise the cost of the surrogacy journey.
Depending on your county of residence, the ACA marketplace may not provide any surrogate-friendly plans. However, there are still some options available. For example, Lloyd's of London is a company that provides insurance coverage for surrogacy pregnancy.
The following a chart of the state deadlines for open enrollment.
States | Federal Open Enrollment Period for 2025 Plans |
Alabama | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Alaska | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Arizona | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Arkansas | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Delaware | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Florida | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Georgia | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Hawaii | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Illinois | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
Indiana | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Iowa | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Kansas | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Louisiana | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Michigan | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Mississippi | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Missouri | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Montana | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Nebraska | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
New Hampshire | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
North Carolina | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
North Dakota | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Ohio | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Oklahoma | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Oregon | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
South Carolina | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
South Dakota | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Tennessee | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Texas | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Utah | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Virginia | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
West Virginia | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Wisconsin | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Wyoming | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
State | State Open Enrollment Period for 2025 Plans |
California | November 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025 |
Colorado | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
Connecticut | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Idaho | October 15, 2024 – December 15, 2024 |
Kentucky | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Maine | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Maryland | November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) January 1, 2025 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Massachusetts | November 1, 2024 – January 23, 2025 |
Minnesota | November 1, 2024 – December 18, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 19, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Nevada | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
New Jersey | November 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025 |
New Mexico | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
New York | November 1,6 2024 – January 31, 2025 |
Pennsylvania | November 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) December 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Rhode Island | November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 (Coverage starts on January 1) January 1, 2025 - January 15, 2025 (Coverage starts on February 1) |
Vermont | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
Washington DC | November 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025 |
Washington | November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Affordable Care Act open enrollment is important in many surrogacy journeys because it allows parties to find insurance policies for surrogates that cover their pregnancy and contain no surrogacy exclusions or liens. If you are a surrogate or intended parent, make sure the surrogate's insurance coverage has been reviewed by a professional and sign up for major medical insurance during open enrollment to ensure she is covered for a surrogacy pregnancy if her insurance does not cover surrogacy
If you are committed to ensuring that your surrogacy journey aligns seamlessly with legal, financial, and healthcare aspects, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our expert team, licensed in CA, NY, IL, WA, AZ, OK, is ready to provide the legal guidance and support you need. Contact us now.