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Unemployed people

Marketplace coverage when you’re unemployed

If you lost health insurance through a job, you can find coverage through the Marketplace.

When can I enroll?

You have 60 days after losing your job-based health coverage to enroll in Marketplace coverage. (Losing your job for any reason and your job-based health coverage qualifies you for a
. Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods.
If eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you can enroll in those programs any time. You’ll find out if you qualify when you fill out your Marketplace application. Get details about Medicaid and CHIP.
Check if you can enroll now

How can I enroll?

By submitting one application, we’ll tell you about your eligibility for programs like Medicaid and CHIP, as well as any cost savings you may qualify for on Marketplace insurance. You can apply for coverage several ways.
Get details on how to apply.

Will I qualify for savings?

You may qualify for lower costs for your Marketplace plan based on your expected household income for the year you’re looking for coverage.
Find out if you might save. You'll get exact plan prices and savings by filling out a Marketplace application.

Can I get savings if my spouse has job-based coverage?

If your spouse or family member has job-based coverage that doesn’t allow other household members to join the plan, you can qualify for savings on a Marketplace plan. 
But, if you're eligible for coverage under a family member's job-based plan and it meets certain standards (most plans do), you won’t qualify for savings on a Marketplace plan, even if you don't enroll in the job-based coverage. Having access to job-based coverage doesn’t affect your eligibility for Medicaid. Get details about the standards for job-based coverage.

How do I estimate my income on the application?

When providing income information on your application, make your best estimate based on all current or expected income sources for the year you’re seeking coverage. You’ll need to estimate both your monthly and annual income, including what you’ve already received and what you expect to earn for the rest of the year.
Include:
  • Unemployment benefits.
  • All household members’ income (not just yours).
  • Additional types of income, including interest income, capital gains, and alimony.
  • Most withdrawals from traditional IRAs and 401ks.

Do withdrawals from an individual retirement account (IRA) or 401k count as income?

It depends on the account type you’re withdrawing from. Generally, your income amount from a retirement account distribution depends on:
  • The type of retirement account
  • How much you contributed to it, and
  • If you were already taxed on the amount you contributed
IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP)-IRA
Withdrawals from a traditional IRA or SEP-IRA generally count as income. If you made only tax-deductible contributions, all of it is considered income. If you made non-deductible contributions, refer to IRS Form 8606 (PDF, 90 KB).
Roth IRA
Qualified withdrawals from a Roth IRA aren't considered income. For more information, refer to IRS Publication 590.
401k
Withdrawals from a 401k plan generally count as income. This includes your pre-tax contributions, an employer’s matching contributions, as well as earnings. But, qualified distributions from a designated Roth account in a 401(k) plan aren't considered income. For more information, refer to IRS Publication 575.
Get more details about what to include as income.
Notice:
Get the right amount of savings 
If you already have a Marketplace application, report any income changes right away to get the correct, full amount of savings. Get details on reporting changes.
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