Recent life change? You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
Published on February 13, 2020
Now that Open Enrollment is over, you can enroll in or change Marketplace coverage only if you have a life event, like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage, that qualifies you for a
Does my life event make me eligible for a Special Enrollment Period?
There are 4 basic types of qualifying life events:
- Loss of health coverage: Losing job-based coverage (whether through yourself or a family member) or eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Household changes: Marriage, child birth or adoption, divorce, or death
- Residence changes: Certain household moves, like moving to a new ZIP code or county
- Other qualifying events (like income changes): Changes that make you no longer eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), leaving incarceration, etc.
See the full list of life events.
How do I apply for 2020 coverage through a Special Enrollment Period?
- If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, create an account or log into an existing one to enroll in a plan for 2020.
- You may be asked to submit documents to confirm the life event that makes you eligible.
Not sure your life event counts as a Special Enrollment Period? Just answer a few quick questions to find out.