Special Enrollment

Open Enrollment (opens in new tab) is the period each year when insurers offer health insurance plans to any individuals who would like to purchase them—whether you buy it through a broker or through a state exchange. Typically, Open Enrollment begins November 1 and ends December 15. However, people often find that they need to purchase a health plan outside of Open Enrollment—maybe they lost coverage from a job or moved to a new city.

When Open Enrollment ends, the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) begins. You'll then need to have what’s called a qualifying life event (opens in new tab) in order to enroll in a health insurance plan in the insurance marketplace. Some of these life events include: losing health coverage from your employer, moving into a new coverage area, gaining citizenship, getting married, having a baby, and adopting a child. If one of these events happens, you have a 60-day window called an SEP during which you can sign up for a plan. If you don't sign up for a plan within that 60-day period, you may have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period to enroll in a health plan in the individual market.

To see a complete list of qualifying life events, visit HealthCare.gov (opens in new tab).