Special Enrollment Period or Qualifying Event

Some life changes trigger what is called a "special enrollment" period. Special enrollment lets you get or change your health coverage outside of open enrollment.

The special enrollment period lasts 31 days from the date of a triggering event for a qualified individual or their dependents.

Examples of Qualifying Life Events

Change in Your Household Size

• Getting married
• Having a baby
• Adopting a child or placing a child for adoption or foster care
• Death of family member (causing you to lose eligibility in your current plan)

Losing Your Health Coverage

• Losing job-based coverage for any reason, including resigning, getting laid off, or getting fired
• Expiration of COBRA coverage
• Losing coverage under your parents' plan at age 26
• Getting divorced or legally separated (resulting in loss of coverage)
• Losing eligibility for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Note: Losing coverage that doesn't qualify as minimum essential coverage doesn't qualify you for a special enrollment period. Learn more at HealthCare.gov.

Change in Circumstance

• Permanently moving outside your plan's coverage area
• A change in income (affecting eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions)

Change in Status

• Gaining citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.