Need health insurance after a qualifying life event?

Wondering if your recent life change is a qualifying life event that lets you update your health insurance? You’re not alone, and you may have options.

Every year, millions of people go through life changes that may qualify them for a special enrollment period:

• 2 million couples get married¹
• 674,000 couples get divorced¹
• 6 million babies are born²
• 20 million people lose their jobs due to layoffs

Life doesn’t follow a perfectly-timed schedule for weddings, kids, breakups, or surprise job changes. Right?

When stuff happens, it can affect your life and your health insurance. But if you’ve some big changes in your life, you might get a special chance to enroll in coverage without waiting for open enrollment.

Here’s how it works, and how to find out if you qualify.

In this article, you’ll learn about:

• What counts as a qualifying life event
• The timeline for enrollment after a qualifying life event
• Documents you’ll need to verify your situation
• 2 options for coverage without a qualifying life event

Let’s break down what you need to know…

What is a qualifying life event?

A qualifying life event is a major change in your life that gives you a chance to sign up for a new health plan or make changes to your current one.

When life is “normal,” you can choose a new health plan or make changes to your health plan during Open Enrollment.

• The Open Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states.^4,5

But if you have a qualifying life event, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period for 60 days from the date of the event.

4 types of qualifying life events

Not every life change or circumstance meets the requirements for a qualifying life event. However, there are four main types of qualifying life events, which include:⁶

1. Changes in your household

• Getting married or divorced
• Having a baby or adopting a child
• A death in the family that affects your coverage

2. Changes in health coverage

• Losing job-based insurance
• Losing individual, COBRA, or student health plans
• Turning 26 and aging off your parent’s plan
• Losing Medicaid or CHIP eligibility

3. Changes in where you live

• Moving to a new ZIP code, county, or state
• Relocating for school or seasonal work
• Moving into or out of transitional housing

4. Other big changes

• Gaining U.S. citizenship or lawful residency
• Leaving incarceration
• A change in income that affects your eligibility for help paying for coverage

Timeline for enrollment

Time matters. You usually have 60 days from the date of your qualifying life event to enroll in a Marketplace health plan.⁷

If you miss that window, you’ll likely have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period.

Documents you’ll need for a Special Enrollment Period

To make sure you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may need to provide documents that verify your life event happened, such as proof of:⁷

• Marriage or divorce: Certificate or decree
• Birth or adoption: Birth certificate or legal papers
• Loss of coverage: Notice from your insurer or employer
• Move: Lease, utility bill, or change-of-address document
• Citizenship status: naturalization or immigration documents

3 options for health insurance

If you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may still have options:

• Medicaid or CHIP: These programs accept applications year-round if your income or situation qualifies.⁸
• Wait for Open Enrollment: The next Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states.
• Short-term health insurance: These may provide temporary coverage during gaps. Under current federal rules, short-term plans are limited to 3 months with a maximum-coverage period of 4 months.⁹ These plans usually don’t cover pre-existing conditions or all essential benefits.

Get health insurance after a qualifying life event

Had a qualifying life event? We can help you find a health plan that fits your new situation. Just give us a call at (800) 827-9990 to speak with a licensed health insurance agent or find a licensed agent in your area.