Enroll after a life event

Losing health coverage usually opens a 60-day special enrollment window — you do not have to wait for open enrollment. Pick your situation and your state below to see the exact deadline, what plans really cost there in 2026, and how to enroll.

The rules are federal, but the practical answer is local: which marketplace you use, what a Silver plan actually costs at your age, and whether Medicaid is an option all depend on your state. Each state guide below covers the special enrollment window, the documents you will be asked for, an honest COBRA-versus-marketplace comparison, and a subsidy estimator pre-filled for that state. Most people who lose job coverage qualify for a premium tax credit — often a large one — so check your number before assuming COBRA is the only way to keep coverage.

If you just want a number, the 2026 subsidy calculator works for any state — enter your ZIP, ages, and expected income and you will see your estimated credit and real monthly costs instantly, no email required.