Individuals and families without access to employer-sponsored health insurance have until March 31 to enroll in an individual plan. The deadline applies to individuals applying through Covered California and to those going directly to an insurance carrier. After March 31, individuals will only be allowed to enroll in a plan if they have a “qualifying event” such as loss of coverage, marriage, birth or adoption, etc. Individuals with a qualifying event will have 60 calendar days from the date of the qualifying event to select a plan. Individuals that don’t enroll in a plan by March 31, and don’t experience a qualifying event during the year, will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to apply for coverage. The next open enrollment period will be October 15, 2014 through December 7, 2014 with coverage to be effective January 1, 2015.