Health Insurance

Lost your job and your coverage? Your 60-day marketplace window

Losing coverage with a job is stressful, but it comes with one firm protection: a 60-day window to enroll in a marketplace plan, no waiting for Open Enrollment.

Health insurance normally has a front door that's only open once a year — Open Enrollment. But certain life events unlock a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), and losing job-based coverage is the most common one. Here's how the window actually works, from HealthCare.gov's own rules.

The 60-day window, in both directions

You generally have 60 days from the day your job-based coverage ends to enroll in a marketplace plan. You can also enroll up to 60 days before a known end date, so coverage can start the day after your old plan stops — worth doing if you know the date, because it avoids a gap.

What losing coverage does and doesn't include

Voluntarily dropping a plan doesn't open the window. Losing it does: a job ending, hours cut below eligibility, aging off a parent's plan at 26, COBRA running out, or a family plan ending in a divorce. The marketplace may ask for documentation of the loss — a letter from the employer or insurer usually settles it.

COBRA vs. the marketplace: the real comparison

COBRA lets you keep your old plan, but you pay the full premium — the employer's share and yours. A marketplace plan may cost less, especially if your income for the year qualifies you for a premium tax credit; the estimate uses your expected annual income, which matters in a year your income just changed. One caution in the fine print: choosing COBRA and later dropping it mid-stream generally doesn't open a new special enrollment window — letting COBRA run out does. The choice deserves ten minutes of math, and a real quote with the credit applied is the fastest way to do it.

If you miss the window

After 60 days, you're generally waiting for the next Open Enrollment (November 1 in most states) unless another qualifying event comes along. If you're inside the window now, the clock matters more than the perfect decision — you can compare plans honestly in an afternoon.

Not sure whether your situation qualifies? That's a specific, factual question, and a licensed agent can answer it for your state at no cost.

Common questions

Lost your job and your coverage? Your 60-day marketplace window: common questions

How long do I have to enroll after losing job-based coverage?
Generally 60 days from the date your coverage ends. You can also enroll up to 60 days before a known end date so the new plan starts as the old one stops, avoiding a gap.
Does quitting my job qualify me for a Special Enrollment Period?
Losing job-based coverage qualifies regardless of whether you left voluntarily — what matters is the coverage loss, not the reason for the job change. Dropping a plan you could have kept, on its own, does not qualify.
Should I take COBRA or a marketplace plan?
Compare the full COBRA premium against a marketplace plan with your estimated tax credit applied. COBRA keeps your exact plan and providers; the marketplace is often cheaper after the credit. Note that dropping COBRA mid-stream generally doesn't open a new enrollment window.

Want help with your own situation?

Not sure how the 2026 changes affect you?

A licensed agent can walk you through your options, what they cost, and what fits — with no cost or obligation to ask.

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