What is special enrollment?

Following qualifying life events such as the loss of a job, there is a special enrollment period, typically lasting 60 days, which enables the individual to enroll in a healthcare plan through the marketplace outside of the open enrollment period. This enrollment coverage lasts 18 months. If another life-qualifying event occurs during this period, coverage is expanded for another 18 months.

 

This is different from the open enrollment period, because the special enrollment period for an individual can happen during any time of the year. Rather than having to wait for the next open enrollment period to enroll in health insurance, a person who has undergone a qualifying life event may enroll in health insurance within a 60 day window of said event. A qualifying life event can happen at anytime, meaning that special enrollment can be triggered at any time.