Looking to enroll in health insurance?
You can sign up for health coverage outside of Open Enrollment if you experience a qualifying life event. Basic types of qualifying life events can be loss of coverage, getting married, adopting a child, a change in household size, a permanent move, plus more. When something like this happens you become eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.
How a SEP works   |   Common qualifying life events   |   Losing health coverage   |   Change in household size   |   Change in residence   |   Newly Eligible for HRA   |   Additional QLE   |   Special circumstances   |   Don't qualify
How a Special Enrollment works
There's an annual Open Enrollment Period when you can enroll in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Outside of that, you can sign up for new coverage during a Special Enrollment Period if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
Jan 17, 2025
Special Enrollment
Nov 2, 2025
Open Enrollment
Jan 16, 2026
In most cases, Special Enrollment is a 60-day window, starting with the date of your Qualifying Life Event. You can also apply for health insurance coverage 60 days before the QLE in cases where you know you'll lose coverage. For example, turning 26 and no longer being able to stay on a parent's health insurance plan.
It's also important to know, you may be required to submit documentation regarding your QLE to prove your eligibility.
Don't forget about our free guide that highlights each type of qualifying life event. Grab it here and save to your computer for future reference.
Here are common Qualifying Life Events:
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Losing your health coverage
You may be eligible to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health insurance within the last 60 days. Or if you or anyone in your household expects to lose health coverage within the next 60 days.
• You lose health coverage through your job or a family member's job.
Please note:  You will not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or a family member lost coverage because you did not pay your monthly premium. If this is the reason for your loss of health coverage, you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period to sign up.
• You lose a health insurance policy you bought yourself. This includes the following:
  • Your Marketplace health insurance plan or individual plan no longer exists (has been discontinued).
  • You are no longer eligible for a student health plan.
  • The coverage year ends in the middle of the calendar year for your individual or group health plan and you choose not to renew it.
  • You no longer live in your plan’s coverage area making you ineligible for this plan.
• You lose coverage through a family member:
You may be eligible to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you lose the qualifying health insurance you had through a spouse, parent, or additional family member.
  • You turn 26 years old and are no longer covered on your parent's health insurance plan (the maximum dependent age may be different per state).
  • You go through a divorce or legal separation and lose your health coverage.
  • The death of a family member causes you to lose your health coverage.
  • A family member loses job-based health coverage for dependents or loses coverage entirely, causing you to lose your coverage.
  • You are no longer a dependent under a parent or guardian causing you to lose your health coverage.
Please note:  If you are a dependent and voluntarily drop your coverage, this does not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. You will also not qualify for an SEP if you or a family member lost coverage because you did not pay your monthly premium. If this is the reason for your loss of health coverage, you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period to sign up.
• You lose your health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP:
  • You lose your eligibility. For example, your household income increases causing you to no longer be eligible for Medicaid.
  • Your child is not longer eligible for CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) based on age.
• You lose your health coverage through Medicare Part A:
You will not be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if:
  • You did not pay your monthly premium causing you to lose Medicare Part A.
  • You only lose Medicare Parts B, C, or D.
• You lose your COBRA health coverage:
Please note:  If you do not pay your monthly premium or you voluntarily drop your COBRA coverage, you may not qualify to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period.
household_size
Changes in your household size
You may eligible to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household experienced one of the following life changes within the last 60 days:
  • Getting married (one person must have had coverage within 60 days of the marriage)
  • Having a baby or adopting a child
  • Placing a child in foster care
  • Turning 26 and aging out of your parent’s plan
  • Losing health insurance through a divorce or legal separation
  • Losing health insurance due to a death of a family member
moved
Changes in your residence
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on these types of household moves:
  • Losing coverage when moving to a new county or ZIP code
  • Losing coverage when moving to or from the place you attend school
  • Changes in your residence
  • Losing coverage as a seasonal worker when moving to or from the place where you both live and work
  • Losing coverage when moving to or from transitional housing
  • Moving to the United States from a foreign country or United States territory
Please note:  If you are moving primarily for medical treatment or staying somewhere for vacation, it doesn’t qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.
It’s also important to know, you must prove you had qualifying health coverage for one or more days during the 60 days before your move. You don't need to provide proof if you’re moving from a foreign country or United States territory.
incarceration
Newly Eligible for HRA
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household newly gained access to an individual coverage HRA or a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) in the past 60 days OR expects to in the next 60 days.
  • An employer offer to help with the cost of coverage
  • You are being, or have been offered a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement
no_reason
Additional Qualifying Life Events
  • Leaving incarceration
  • Becoming a U.S. citizen
  • Gaining status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder
  • Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe
  • Starting or ending your service as an AmeriCorps VISTA member
Don't see your reason?
Besides the main QLE buckets, there are some special circumstances that will also qualify you for Special Enrollment:
  • You don’t have coverage or were enrolled in the wrong plan due to error or misconduct by an agent, a technical error on the Marketplace, or because the plan data on HealthCare.gov wasn't accurate when you picked your plan.
  • You are a survivor of domestic abuse/violence or spousal abandonment and want to be on your own health insurance plan. This applies even if you're still married to your abuser/abandoner.
  • You experienced a serious medical condition or natural disaster that prevented you from enrolling during Open Enrollment.
  • You became a dependent of someone else or gained a new dependent because of a court order.
See the full list.
What if I don't qualify?
• You can wait until the next Open Enrollment period
  • You can shop and enroll in qualified health plans
  • You may be eligible for tax credits and cost sharing reductions
  • Your plan's effective date would be for January 1 if you enroll by December 15
• See if you qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Programs for low-income adults and children that you can enroll in year-round.
• File an appeal if you were turned down for a Special Enrollment Period but believe you qualify
Don't forget about our free guide that highlights each type of qualifying life event. Grab it here and save to your computer for future reference.