 [ Symptoms ] i will be dropped from health coverage by a soon to be ex spouse  this may not occur by december 31st and may run over to january 2014 may i apply now anyway [ Disease ] if you apply for insurance before december 23rd your plan will take effect january 1 2014 if you think you will have your current plan through january you will want to sign up by january 15 to have a plan in place by february 1st