A HASSLE FREE PROCESS THAT KEEPS YOU COVERED!
WLS Insurance Agency is your Georgia Insurance Broker, making the process simple and convenient for individuals, families, small groups, and Medicare clients.
Our licensed insurance agents are here to guide you through the process of finding the lowest possible premium that will cover all of your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us and enroll online now!
OUR SERVICES
Our broker consultations are free, with no obligation — just honest guidance. We represent a wide range of trusted insurance carriers to help you compare plans and find the right coverage. We provide the following insurance coverages in Massachusetts:
✅ Health Insurance ✅ Long Term Care
✅ Medicare Insurance ✅ Supplemental Coverage
✅ Dental and Vision ✅ Auto/Home
✅ Life Insurance ✅ Business
✅ Disability ✅ Flood
✅ Surety Bond ✅Travel
WHAT ARE OPEN ENROLLMENT DATES TO KNOW?
Georgia Access: Open enrollment is November 1 through January 15.
Health insurance through work: Enrollment periods are set by your employer (typically in fall)
Medicare: Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is October 15 to December 7 every year. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is around age 65
Medicare Advantage: Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is January 1 to March 31 every year.
Georgia Medicaid: Enroll anytime
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (DSNP): Enroll anytime
WHAT IF I MISSED THE DEADLINE FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT?
If you need coverage during a time when annual open enrollment isn’t available and you have not experienced a Qualifying Life Event, you can buy short term health insurance. Short term health insurance can fill health care needs for short amounts of time.
INDIVIDUAL SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE
An enrollment period is a defined period of time during which a consumer may enroll in an insurance plan. Exchanges offer two types of enrollment periods: OE and SEPs. Outside of OE, a consumer cannot enroll in health coverage through Georgia Access unless they are eligible for an SEP.
OE, also known as an Open Enrollment Period (OEP), is the annual period when all consumers may enroll in health and dental plans on Georgia Access for the upcoming Calendar Year, which is also known as a Plan Year (PY).
The Georgia Access OEP is November 1 through January 15.
November 1st is the first day consumers can begin to enroll in or change plans on Georgia Access for the upcoming year.
December 15th is the last day consumers can enroll in or change plans for coverage starting January 1st.
January 1st is the coverage start date for those who enrolled in or changed plans by December 15th and paid their first premium.
Open Enrollment ends on January 15th. This is the last day to enroll in or change health plans for coverage to begin February 1st.
February 1st is the coverage start date for those who enrolled in or changed plans between December 16th and January 15th and paid their first premiums.
For consumers who opt in to re-enrollment on their application, Georgia Access automatically re-enrolls them into their same coverage before OE begins, or into a similar plan if their insurance company no longer offers the same plan. Consumers are then able to update their application and select a different plan during OE.
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time outside of the yearly Open Enrollment (OE) period when Georgians can enroll in or change coverage due to a change in circumstance or after a life event occurs, referred to as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Depending on the type of SEP, consumers have either 60 or 90 days before or after the event occurs to enroll. Consumers can enroll in or change coverage through the Georgia Access consumer portal, or with a certified agent, web broker, or insurance company.
Georgians who experience specific Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) can enroll in or change coverage outside of OE, during an SEP. The most common QLEs include:
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Marriage
- Divorce, legal separation, or death in the family resulting in loss of coverage
- Gaining or becoming a dependent due to child support or other court order
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Changes in lawful presence
- Leaving incarceration
- Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe
- Changes in residency
- Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC)
- Change in financial eligibility or other eligibility status
No, Georgia Access is a separate health insurance program. Georgia Pathways to CoverageTM is a Medicaid program. To learn more about Georgia Pathways, Georgians can visit DCH.Georgia.gov/georgiapathways.