Special Enrollment Period The Special Enrollment Period is the time outside of Open Enrollment that allows individuals and families facing special circumstances (Qualifying Life Events) to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan. Most eligible individuals have 60 days to enroll after their triggering event. If they do not enroll during that 60 day window, they must wait until the next Open Enrollment to purchase a policy.
Major Qualifying Life Events
Marriage
Birth, adoption, or placement of a child in your household
Permanent relocation to an area offering different plan options
Loss of other health coverage (examples include: job loss, divorce, loss of Medicaid or CHIP eligibility, expiration of COBRA coverage, a health plan becomes decertified). Note: The following are not considered loss of coverage: voluntarily cancellation, termination of a health plan as a result of missing premium payments, or losing coverage that is not minimum essential coverage
Change in income or household status that affects tax subsidy eligibility or cost-sharing reductions of a current Marketplace plan
What can I buy outside of Open Enrollment? You can still buy short-term medical, fixed benefit, ancillary, Medicare Advantage (typically during the Annual Enrollment Period: October 15th – December 7th), and Medicare Supplement.
