Post-Open Enrollment Checklist: What to Do Before January 1
Now that open enrollment is officially over, it’s time to shift gears and make sure you’re set up for success in 2025. Whether you just signed up for a new plan or renewed your existing coverage, here are some essential next steps to take care of ASAP:
1. Submit Your First Payment
If we made your first payment together—great! You’re good to go.
But if:
- You weren’t on auto-pay
- You haven’t paid your first premium yet
👉 Make that payment by December 31 or your coverage won’t start on January 1.
2. Set Up or Log Into Your Insurance Portal
You should have a portal with your carrier. Use it to:
- Confirm your plan details
- Enable auto-pay (if it’s not set up already)
- View your digital ID cards
- Check payment status or any remaining balances
Pro tip: Digital ID cards are often available faster than physical ones.
3. Verify Your Primary Care Physician (PCP)
If you have an HMO, make sure your listed PCP is correct before December 31. If it’s not:
- You can update it via the portal before 12/31.
- After that, you’ll need to call the carrier and request a retroactive change—which is harder to do.
If you’ve already seen your PCP, changes may not go into effect until February.
Important Reminders
- Your old plan will auto-terminate on December 31.
- If you get any confusing ID cards from past carriers, ignore them.
- You can always check your portal to confirm your active plan.
Don’t delay—check these tasks off your list before the new year kicks off!
📞 Need help or have questions? Book a time with me today.
Stay tuned for Part 2, coming next week!
