
A qualifying event for insurance can be a life-changing moment, but understanding the time frame and eligibility can be overwhelming.
You have 60 days to notify your insurance provider after a qualifying event occurs.
Qualifying events can include marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, or a change in employment status.
If you're getting married, you can add your spouse to your health insurance plan within 30 days of your wedding date.
What is a Qualifying Event?
A qualifying event is a life-changing situation that can impact your health insurance. It's a significant event that allows you to change your health plan outside of the annual enrollment period.
Qualifying life events can be categorized into four main groups: health coverage loss, household changes, residence changes, and other related qualifying events. Losing an existing health coverage, such as a student or job-based plan, qualifies you to enroll for a health plan outside the open period.
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Household changes can also trigger a qualifying event, including marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, or death of a family member. These changes allow you to change your health plan outside the open enrollment period.
Some common qualifying events due to residence changes include moving to a new ZIP code or county, change of schooling location, or moving shelters due to transitional housing policy. These changes can also trigger a qualifying event.
Here are some specific qualifying life events:
- Getting married or divorced
- Having or adopting a baby
- Death of someone who shares your health plan
- Moving to a new area
- Earning U.S. citizenship
- Loss of health insurance
These events can allow you to change your health plan outside of the annual enrollment period, so it's essential to be aware of what constitutes a qualifying event.
Types of Qualifying Events
Qualifying life events occupy 4 categories: health coverage loss, household changes, residence changes, and other related qualifying events.
Losing an existing coverage, such as student, individual, and job-based plans, qualifies you to enroll for a health plan outside the open period. This includes losing coverage due to graduating from college or changing jobs.
Household changes can include marriage or divorce, birth or adoption of a child, or death of a family member. These changes allow you to change your health plan outside the open enrollment period.
Qualifying events due to residence changes include change of a ZIP code or county, change of schooling location, moving shelters due to transitional housing policy, and change of a seasonal workplace.
Some other related qualifying events include income adjustments that affect coverage qualification and becoming a member of a federally recognized status, such as a native tribe. Additionally, becoming a U.S. citizen, incarceration, and starting or ending service as an AmeriCorps member are also some of the qualifying life events.
Here are some examples of qualifying life events:
- Getting married or divorced
- Having or adopting a baby
- Death of someone who shares your health plan
- Moving to a new area
- Earning U.S. citizenship
- Turning 26 or 65
- Experiencing a shift in employment status
- Losing health insurance
Eligibility Changes
Eligibility Changes can be a qualifying event for insurance, allowing you to change your medical plans during the time frame. This can happen when you experience a change in income that affects your eligibility for Medicaid coverage.
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You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you lose your Medicaid coverage after being asked to renew or recertify your benefits. This is often referred to as redetermination.
Here are some examples of eligibility changes that qualify for a SEP:
- Changes in income that affect your eligibility for Medicaid coverage
- Becoming eligible for tax credits that lower premiums
- Becoming a member of a federally recognized tribe
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Being discharged from the military
- Being released from incarceration
Eligibility Changes
If you experience a change in income, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This is especially true if the change affects your eligibility for Medicaid coverage.
A change in income can be due to various reasons, such as a job change, inheritance, or a decrease in family size. If you're already enrolled in an ACA plan, becoming eligible for tax credits that lower premiums is also a qualifying life event.
Becoming a member of a federally recognized tribe or a new U.S. citizen can also trigger a QLE. Additionally, being discharged from the military or released from incarceration are also qualifying life events.

Here are some specific examples of income-related changes that may qualify you for a QLE:
- Changes in income that affect your eligibility for Medicaid coverage
- Becoming eligible for tax credits that lower premiums
Keep in mind that these changes can affect your health insurance eligibility, so it's essential to review your options and explore your choices carefully.
Age and Eligibility
Age is a determining factor in the eligibility for a qualifying event. According to the Affordable Care Act, you should apply for your own insurance cover after turning 26. You have 60 days to enroll in a health insurance plan after turning 26. Enrolling before turning 26 enables your coverage to commence on the first day after turning 26. Enrolling during the 60 days makes the coverage to start on the first day after collection of the coverage. After enrolling successfully, you become eligible for a qualifying life event.
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Family and Household Changes
Family and household changes can be a significant qualifying life event for insurance purposes. You can change your medical plans during a qualifying event, including those related to family and household changes.
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Major shifts in your family life, such as getting married, having a baby, adoption, or foster care, can trigger a qualifying life event. These changes may require you to adjust your benefits.
Family changes that count as qualifying life events include:
- Getting married
- Bringing children into the family with the birth of a baby, adoption or foster care
- Divorce
- Death of a member enrolled in your health plan
You may also experience qualifying life events due to household changes, such as getting married, separated, or divorced, or experiencing the death of someone on your health insurance policy.
Family Changes
Family changes can be a significant life event, and it's essential to understand how they may impact your health insurance coverage. Getting married is a qualifying life event, which means you can make changes to your health plan.
A birth, adoption, or foster care of a child is also a qualifying life event, allowing you to update your health insurance to cover your new family member. Divorce or the death of a family member enrolled in your health plan may also trigger a change in your benefits.
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Here are some key family changes that can affect your health insurance:
- Getting married
- Bringing children into the family with the birth of a baby, adoption or foster care
- Divorce
- Death of a member enrolled in your health plan
If you've experienced one of these changes, call the phone number on your member ID card to learn about your options and make the necessary updates to your health plan.
Changes in Residence
Changes in Residence can be a significant life event, and it's essential to understand how it may impact your benefits. If you're moving to a different county or zip code, you may qualify for a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
For students, moving to or from school can also trigger a QLE. This can include changes in residence due to seasonal work, such as moving to or from a work location.
Moving in or out of a shelter or transitional housing is another example of a change in residence that may qualify for a QLE. This can be a challenging time, but understanding your benefits can help.
Here are some specific examples of changes in residence that may qualify for a QLE:
- Moving to a different county or zip code
- For students, moving to or from school
- For seasonal workers, moving to or from a work location
- Moving in or out of a shelter or transitional housing
- Moving to the U.S. from a U.S. territory or foreign country
These changes can have a significant impact on your life, and it's essential to understand how they may affect your benefits.
Special Enrollment Period
A special enrollment period is a great way to get health insurance coverage if you experience a qualifying life event. You can enroll in a health plan outside of the annual enrollment period.
To qualify for a special enrollment period, you need to provide proof of the qualifying event, which can include a court order, a copy of a divorce decree, or other documentation. You have 30 days to provide the proof after the qualifying event occurs.
Some examples of qualifying events include gaining a dependent through a court order, experiencing domestic violence, or winning an appeal after an incorrect eligibility determination. You can also qualify if you experience a natural disaster or pandemic, or if you're prevented from enrolling due to a serious medical condition.
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Here are some examples of qualifying events that may qualify you for a special enrollment period:
- Gaining a new dependent or becoming dependent on someone else due to a court order
- Surviving domestic abuse or spousal abandonment and enrolling in a new, personal health policy
- Filing and winning an appeal after an incorrect eligibility determination or substantial contract violation
- Experiencing a natural disaster or pandemic
- Being prevented from enrolling due to a serious medical condition or technical error
You should act quickly to enroll in a new health plan after a qualifying event occurs. You have 30 days to make the change, and you can do this by making an online enrollment through the Health and Welfare Benefits website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IRS qualifying life event 30 or 60 days?
Qualifying life events typically allow changes within 30 or 60 days, but missing the deadline may delay changes until the next open enrollment period, which can be up to a year
Sources
- https://namely.com/blog/qualifying-life-event-guide/
- https://policyscout.com/qualifying-life-events-in-health-insurance
- https://www.uhc.com/understanding-health-insurance/open-enrollment/qualifying-life-events
- https://www.bamboohr.com/resources/hr-glossary/qualifying-life-event
- https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/16-what-qualifying-events-create-special-enrollment-period-sep
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