Losing Job-based Health Coverage
If you lose your job-based health coverage, you have 2 options for staying covered. You can buy an individual plan through the Marketplace. Or, you may be able to keep your employer’s group health coverage for a limited time through a program called COBRA continuation coverage.
• Option 1: Get an individual Marketplace plan.
If you leave your job for any reason and/or lose your job based coverage, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and can choose to buy coverage from the Marketplace. You may qualify for a tax credit that can lower your monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs, depending on your household size and income. You’ll have 60 days to enroll in the Marketplace from the time your coverage ends, which may or may not be the last day of employment. Keep any documentation you have of your current coverage and effective dates—you may need it when you request a Special Enrollment Period.
Note: This option doesn’t apply if you voluntarily gave up your job-based health coverage even though you stayed in your job.
Applying for coverage through the Marketplace
You can apply for Marketplace coverage online at HealthCare.gov or by calling the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. When you apply choose “No” when answering whether you currently have health coverage. You can apply for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage at any time through the Marketplace.
• Option 2: Get COBRA coverage.
When you leave a job or lose your job-based coverage, you may be able to purchase your job-based health coverage (for you and your family members) for a period of time, usually up to 18 months called COBRA continuation coverage. With COBRA coverage, you usually have to pay the entire monthly premium yourself, plus a small administrative fee. Your former employer no longer pays any of your insurance costs, which means the premium is usually much higher than what you were paying before leaving your job. You also won’t be able to get a tax credit to lower costs on premiums and out-of-pocket costs that many people get through the Marketplace. COBRA coverage may be much more expensive than coverage through the Marketplace.
You generally won’t be able to get a Marketplace plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period until your COBRA coverage has ended (usually after 18 months). If you voluntarily drop your COBRA coverage or fail to pay your COBRA premiums, you won’t get a Special Enrollment Period through the Marketplace.
Get covered to avoid the penalty
The law requires that you have minimum essential coverage, like job-based or Marketplace coverage. If you don’t have health coverage, you may have to pay a fee when you file your taxes. You’ll also have to pay all of the costs for your health care. If you get minimum essential coverage, you won’t have to pay the fee for the months you have that coverage.
• Option 1: Get an individual Marketplace plan.
If you leave your job for any reason and/or lose your job based coverage, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and can choose to buy coverage from the Marketplace. You may qualify for a tax credit that can lower your monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs, depending on your household size and income. You’ll have 60 days to enroll in the Marketplace from the time your coverage ends, which may or may not be the last day of employment. Keep any documentation you have of your current coverage and effective dates—you may need it when you request a Special Enrollment Period.
Note: This option doesn’t apply if you voluntarily gave up your job-based health coverage even though you stayed in your job.
Applying for coverage through the Marketplace
You can apply for Marketplace coverage online at HealthCare.gov or by calling the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. When you apply choose “No” when answering whether you currently have health coverage. You can apply for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage at any time through the Marketplace.
• Option 2: Get COBRA coverage.
When you leave a job or lose your job-based coverage, you may be able to purchase your job-based health coverage (for you and your family members) for a period of time, usually up to 18 months called COBRA continuation coverage. With COBRA coverage, you usually have to pay the entire monthly premium yourself, plus a small administrative fee. Your former employer no longer pays any of your insurance costs, which means the premium is usually much higher than what you were paying before leaving your job. You also won’t be able to get a tax credit to lower costs on premiums and out-of-pocket costs that many people get through the Marketplace. COBRA coverage may be much more expensive than coverage through the Marketplace.
You generally won’t be able to get a Marketplace plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period until your COBRA coverage has ended (usually after 18 months). If you voluntarily drop your COBRA coverage or fail to pay your COBRA premiums, you won’t get a Special Enrollment Period through the Marketplace.
Get covered to avoid the penalty
The law requires that you have minimum essential coverage, like job-based or Marketplace coverage. If you don’t have health coverage, you may have to pay a fee when you file your taxes. You’ll also have to pay all of the costs for your health care. If you get minimum essential coverage, you won’t have to pay the fee for the months you have that coverage.
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