Enroll: life events

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.

Lost your job

Coverage ending because a job ended (or hours dropped below your employer's threshold) is a qualifying life event in every state. Choose yours:

Turning 26

Aging off a parent's plan is a qualifying life event in every state: you get a 60-day window to pick your own coverage, and most 26-year-olds qualify for a subsidy. Choose your state:

Moving to a new state

A permanent move can open a special enrollment window, but in most states only if you had coverage before the move. Choose the state you moved to:

Having a baby

A birth, adoption, or foster placement opens a 60-day window in every state, and marketplace coverage can start retroactively on the day of the event. Choose your state:

Getting married

Getting married opens a 60-day window from the wedding day, but in most states at least one spouse must have had qualifying coverage in the 60 days before. Choose your state: