Is the fun over for freeloaders? That's what the federal government and insurance companies are hoping. 

In response to complaints from insurers that too many people were exploiting "special enrollment periods" to forgo coverage until they are sick, the federal government is reducing the number of exceptions that allow people to sign up for plans after the standard deadlines. 

There are a number of reasons that some people are allowed to buy insurance outside of the designated time, including if they were enrolled in COBRA and were not properly informed about their need to buy health insurance. That excuse, along with five others, will no longer be considered acceptable excuses to sign up for a plan late.