Qualifying Life Events: Marriage and Job Loss

Marriage and losing your job are two major life events that can affect your health insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has specific rules about how these events impact your eligibility for health insurance.

Marriage as a Qualifying Event

Getting married is a qualifying life event that allows you to enroll in your spouse’s employer-sponsored health plan. You have a special enrollment period of 30 days from the date of your marriage to join your spouse’s plan or make changes to your own coverage. If you miss the 30-day deadline, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make changes to your health insurance.

To enroll in your spouse’s plan, you will need to provide proof of marriage, such as a marriage certificate or a change of name document. You may also need to provide proof that you are eligible to be covered under your spouse’s plan.

Job Loss as a Qualifying Event

Losing your job is also a qualifying life event that allows you to enroll in your spouse’s employer-sponsored health plan. If you lose your job and your health insurance coverage ends, you have a special enrollment period of 60 days from the date of your job loss to enroll in your spouse’s plan. You can also enroll in a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

To enroll in your spouse’s plan, you will need to provide proof of job loss, such as a termination letter or a pay stub showing that you are no longer employed. You may also need to provide proof that you are eligible to be covered under your spouse’s plan.

Additional Information

Qualified Life Events are events that result in a change in coverage or eligibility for coverage under health insurance. In addition to marriage and job loss, other life events that may qualify for a special enrollment period include:

Birth or adoption of a child
Death of a spouse or dependent
Divorce or legal separation
Change in income or household size
Moving to a new state or county
Becoming a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States

If you experience a qualifying life event, it is important to contact your health insurance provider or the Health Insurance Marketplace as soon as possible to enroll in a new plan or make changes to your existing coverage.

It is also important to note that the ACA does not require all health insurance companies to follow the same guidelines for qualifying life events. Some companies may have different rules or restrictions, so it is important to check with your specific insurer to find out what their requirements are.

If you have any questions about your health insurance coverage after a qualifying life event, you should contact your health insurance provider or the Health Insurance Marketplace for assistance.