Can You Leave Health Insurance After 6 months?

If you lose your job and your employer-provided health insurance, you may be wondering what your options are. You may have heard of COBRA, which allows you to continue your employer-sponsored health insurance for a period of time, but it can be expensive. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers another option: you can purchase a health insurance plan through the Marketplace.

What is the ACA Marketplace?

The ACA Marketplace is a website where you can compare and purchase health insurance plans. You may be eligible for a subsidy to help pay for your premiums, depending on your income.

When Can I Enroll in an ACA Plan?

The Open Enrollment Period for the ACA Marketplace runs from November 1st to January 15th. If you miss the Open Enrollment Period, you may still be able to enroll in a plan if you have a qualifying life event, such as losing your job or getting married.

How Do I Cancel My Current Health Insurance?

If you want to switch to an ACA plan, you will need to cancel your current health insurance. You can do this by calling your insurance company or logging into your online account.

What Happens If I Get a New Job?

If you get a new job that provides health insurance, you will need to cancel your ACA plan. You can do this by logging into your Marketplace account or calling the Marketplace call center.

How Can I Get Help Enrolling in an ACA Plan?

If you need help enrolling in an ACA plan, you can call the Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596 or visit the Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov. You can also get help from a licensed insurance agent.

Additional Information

COBRA allows you to continue your employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 18 months after you lose your job. However, COBRA can be expensive, and you will have to pay the full cost of your premiums.
The ACA Marketplace offers a variety of health insurance plans to choose from. You can compare plans by price, coverage, and deductible.
You may be eligible for a subsidy to help pay for your ACA premiums. The amount of your subsidy will depend on your income and family size.
If you have a qualifying life event, you may be able to enroll in an ACA plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period.
If you need help enrolling in an ACA plan, you can call the Marketplace call center or visit the Marketplace website. You can also get help from a licensed insurance agent.