Therefore coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents regardless of current health or health history. When You First Become Eligible You need to enroll for health care coverage within 31 days of your date of hire or your change to permanent status. If you do not enroll within this time frame, you must wait until the open enrollment period to sign up for coverage. Coverage becomes effective on the first day of the month following the month in which you signed up, except for changes made during open enrollment. You may enroll, add dependents or change your current elections during open enrollment.
Open enrollment occurs at least every two years and is usually held in the spring.
You may enroll or add dependents during a special enrollment period which takes place during years in which there is no Open Enrollment. You may not change from one health plan to another during a special enrollment.