Special Enrollment Period
Life Changed? You May Have a 60-Day Window to Get Covered
Certain life events — losing a job, getting married, having a baby, moving — trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that lets you enroll in Marketplace health insurance outside of the annual Open Enrollment window. Act fast: most SEPs last only 60 days.
Qualifying Events
What triggers a Special Enrollment Period
Loss of Coverage
- Losing job-based health insurance (including voluntary resignation)
- COBRA coverage expiring or becoming unaffordable
- Losing coverage as a dependent (spouse's plan drops you)
- Losing Medicaid or CHIP eligibility
- Aging off a parent's plan at 26
- Loss of student health insurance upon graduation
Household Changes
- Getting married or entering a domestic partnership
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- Getting divorced or legally separated (if you lose coverage)
- Death of a plan enrollee (if you lose coverage as a result)
- Dependent child reaching the age 26 limit
Residence Changes
- Moving to a new state
- Moving to a new zip code where different plans are available
- Returning from a foreign country or U.S. territory
- Release from incarceration
- Students moving to/from school
- Seasonal workers leaving a work site
Other Qualifying Events
- Gaining citizenship or lawful immigration status
- Leaving AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or similar service
- Gaining eligibility after American Indian/Alaska Native status
- Income changes making you newly eligible (or ineligible) for subsidies
- Marketplace error or plan termination
Act Quickly
The 60-day clock
When a qualifying event occurs, you have 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan. This window starts on the date of the event (or the date you lose coverage — whichever is later for coverage loss).
Coverage start dates vary by event type. For loss of coverage, your new coverage can begin the day your old coverage ends — eliminating any gap. For other events like marriage or birth, coverage typically starts the first day of the following month.
Missing the 60-day window means waiting until next Open Enrollment (typically November)
Some SEPs require documentation within 30 days of enrollment
COBRA coverage does NOT count as a qualifying event — losing COBRA does
Documentation
What you'll need to prove your qualifying event
Job loss / Loss of employer coverage
Letter from employer, COBRA notice, or pay stub showing last date of employment
Marriage
Marriage certificate
Birth / Adoption
Birth certificate, hospital record, or adoption papers
Divorce
Divorce decree or court order (if coverage was lost as a result)
Move to new state/zip code
Lease agreement, mortgage statement, utility bill, or government document showing new address
Aging off parent's plan at 26
Letter from parent's insurer confirming coverage loss date
Losing Medicaid/CHIP
Notice from state Medicaid agency showing termination date
For context
The standard enrollment windows
A SEP exists for when life doesn't wait for these dates — here's the normal calendar.
Medicare's key enrollment windows
When you can enroll or switch plans
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
7 months around your 65th birthday
Starts 3 months before your birthday month, includes it, and runs 3 months after.
General Enrollment Period
Jan 1 – Mar 31 each year
For those who missed their IEP; coverage begins the month after you enroll.
Medicare Open Enrollment (AEP)
Oct 15 – Dec 7 each year
Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans; changes take effect Jan 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Jan 1 – Mar 31 each year
If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, make one change.
Source: Medicare.gov enrollment periods (Initial, General, and Open Enrollment).
FAQ
Common Special Enrollment Period questions
Can I keep my subsidy during a Special Enrollment Period?
Yes. Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions apply to plans selected during a SEP, just as they do during Open Enrollment. Your subsidy is based on your estimated annual income.
Does having a baby give my whole family a SEP?
Yes. The birth of a child is a qualifying event for everyone in the household, not just the newborn. You can enroll or make changes to your existing plan for all household members during the SEP.
What if I'm not sure whether my event qualifies?
Call us. Some events are less obvious — a reduction in work hours, a coverage change by your employer, or a change in immigration status. We'll quickly confirm whether your situation qualifies and what documentation you'll need.
Aging off a parent's plan at 26? See our turning-26 guide
Don't let your SEP window close
The 60-day clock starts immediately. We'll confirm your qualifying event, identify the right plan, apply your subsidy, and get you enrolled before the window closes.