What is a Special Enrollment Period?
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a window, usually 60 days, during which you can sign up for a marketplace health insurance plan outside of the normal Open Enrollment window. You get one when something specific happens in your life that affects your health coverage.
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. During that window anyone can enroll, no qualifying event needed (see our Open Enrollment 2027 guide). Outside it, a SEP is your way in.
Qualifying life events
Not every life change counts. The qualifying events fall into a few categories:
Losing existing coverage
- Your employer dropped your health plan or you got laid off
- You aged off a parent's plan (turning 26)
- You lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage
- Your COBRA coverage ran out
- You got divorced and lost coverage through your spouse
- A family member who carried the plan died
- Your plan was cancelled or is no longer offered in your area
Important: voluntarily dropping your coverage does not qualify. The loss has to be involuntary.
Household changes
- Getting married
- Having or adopting a baby
- Gaining a dependent through a court order (foster care, guardianship)
- Getting divorced or legally separated
Moving
- Moving to a new ZIP code or county that has different plan options. This includes moving to the U.S. from abroad. It does not include moving within the same coverage area.
Income and eligibility changes
- Your income changed and you newly qualify for subsidies
- You gained citizenship or lawful presence
- You were released from incarceration
- You gained access to an individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) or QSEHRA through an employer
One option that no longer exists: the monthly Special Enrollment Period for people with income below 150% of the federal poverty level. Having a low income is not, by itself, a reason to enroll mid-year anymore. You need a qualifying event, or you can apply for Medicaid or CHIP, which have no enrollment period.
Other situations
- You experienced domestic violence
- A natural disaster prevented you from enrolling on time
- A marketplace error or system outage blocked your enrollment
- You were given wrong information by an enrollment assister
Do I qualify? Check below.
Do I qualify for a Special Enrollment Period?
Check any that happened to you in the last 60 days (or that you expect in the next 60 days).
If none of these apply, you can still enroll during Open Enrollment, which runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 for 2027 coverage. Outside that window, you'll need to wait for the next Open Enrollment unless your situation changes.
Qualify for a Special Enrollment Period? Nora can show you available plans and prices in your area right now — no paperwork needed to start looking.
How much time do I have?
For most qualifying events, you get 60 days from the date of the event. But the details depend on the type of event:
- Loss of coverage: 60 days before or after the loss date. You can actually start shopping before you lose your current plan.
- Marriage, baby, adoption: 60 days after the event.
- Moving: 60 days after you move. You need to have had qualifying coverage in at least one of the 60 days before your move (unless you moved from abroad).
- Losing Medicaid/CHIP: Most states give you 90 days, not 60.
Don't wait until the last day. Processing takes time, and if your application has any issues, you want a buffer.
When does coverage start?
It depends on the type of event and when you pick a plan. On HealthCare.gov:
- Most SEPs, including marriage: coverage starts the 1st of the month after you pick a plan. There is no mid-month cutoff.
- Losing coverage: if you pick a plan before your old coverage ends, the new plan starts the 1st of the month after the old coverage ends, so there is no gap.
- Birth, adoption, or foster care: coverage is retroactive to the date of the event.
So if you pick a plan on March 10 or March 28, your coverage starts April 1. State-run exchanges can set slightly different rules. Plan accordingly, especially if you have upcoming appointments or prescriptions.
How to enroll during a SEP
- Use Nora to compare plans and see your subsidy estimate, or go directly to HealthCare.gov(or your state's marketplace if your state runs its own).
- Create an account or log in.
- Start a new application. You'll be asked about your qualifying event and may need to provide documentation (a termination letter, marriage certificate, lease showing your new address, etc.).
- Complete the application with your household and income information.
- Browse plans, compare costs, and pick one.
- Pay your first month's premium to activate coverage.
You can also call the marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 or work with a local certified enrollment assister or broker at no cost.
What documentation do I need?
On HealthCare.gov, you're most likely to be asked for proof when your SEP is based on losing other health coverage. For other events you may not be asked to upload anything, but keep records in case. Useful documents include:
- Letter from your employer confirming loss of coverage, with dates
- COBRA election notice
- Medicaid/CHIP termination letter
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate or adoption order
- Lease, utility bill, or other proof of your new address
In some cases the marketplace will auto-verify your event (for example, if your Medicaid termination shows up in their system). But have your documents ready just in case.
Can I get a subsidy?
Yes. Subsidy eligibility is the same whether you enroll during Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period. For 2027 coverage, you can get a premium tax credit if your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (up to $63,840 for a single person or $132,000 for a family of four) and you don't have an affordable offer of employer coverage. If your income is below 250% FPL and you pick a Silver plan, you also get cost-sharing reductions.
The enhanced subsidies from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act expired at the end of 2025, so there is no help above 400% FPL, and people below it pay a larger share of income than they did a few years ago. Starting in 2027, tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are also limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants. Other lawfully present immigrants can still enroll through a SEP, but at full price. Our subsidy guide explains the 2027 numbers.