What counts as a qualifying life event?
Short answer
A qualifying life event is a change in your life — like losing coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby — that lets you enroll in or change a plan outside open enrollment.
Common qualifying life events
Changes in coverage
- Losing job-based or other health coverage
- Aging off a parent's plan
Changes in household
- Getting married
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- Divorce or death in the family, in some cases
Changes in residence
- Moving to a new ZIP code or county, in many cases
Other changes
- Changes in income that affect your eligibility for financial help
- Gaining citizenship or lawful presence
Deadlines
You usually have a limited window after the event to enroll. You may need to provide documents to prove it.
What doesn't count
Voluntarily dropping coverage, or losing coverage because you didn't pay premiums, generally doesn't qualify.
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