A change in your circumstances - like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage - that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, which allows you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.
There are 4 basic types of qualifying life events. (The following are examples, not a full list.)
Loss of health coverage
- Losing existing health coverage, including job-based coverage, individual, and student plans
- Losing eligibility for Medicaid, the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan (FAMIS), or Medicare
- Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent's plan
Changes in household
- Getting married or divorced
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- Death in the family
Changes in residence
- Moving to a different ZIP code or county within Virginia
- A permanent move from another state into Virginia
- A student moving to or from the place they attend school
- A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work
- Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing
Other qualifying events
- Changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for
- Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder
- Gaining a qualifying immigration status
- Leaving incarceration (jail or prison)
- AmeriCorps members starting or ending their service
Note: Some QLEs must be verified by Virginia's Insurance Marketplace in order to open up a Special Enrollment Period. If one of the above situations applies to you, make sure to have your information handy when you go to apply.