Losing a job in New Hampshire starts two clocks at once. The first is your 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which begins the day after your employer health plan ends and lets you buy a plan on HealthCare.gov outside the usual Open Enrollment Period. The second is the COBRA election window, also 60 days, which lets you keep your old plan at 102% of the full premium. New Hampshire has no state-based exchange, so every Marketplace application goes through HealthCare.gov rather than a state portal. In 2026 about 66,000 Granite Staters hold Marketplace plans, and job loss is a qualifying life event (QLE) that opens the same SEP for everyone. Because the enhanced federal premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026, the 400% FPL subsidy cliff is back: a single person earning more than $63,840 in 2026 receives no premium tax credit. That change makes it more important to estimate your income carefully. Unemployment benefits from New Hampshire Employment Security count as income, but your old salary does not. Start by confirming your coverage end date, then check Granite Advantage Medicaid before you shop.
Granite Advantage is New Hampshire's Medicaid expansion program for adults aged 19 to 64, and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) takes applications through NH EASY year-round. For 2026 the income line is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, or $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of 4. Marketplace coverage matters for everyone above that line. Four insurers sell individual plans in New Hampshire in 2026, but Ambetter from Celtic is reported to be leaving the market at the end of 2026, which means roughly 12,000 enrollees will have to pick a new plan at the 2027 Open Enrollment Period. Harvard Pilgrim, Matthew Thornton Health Plan (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield), and Boston Medical Center Health Plan (WellSense) are expected to remain for 2027. Employer plan networks often differ from Marketplace networks, so confirm that your doctors and hospitals, such as those in the Dartmouth Health or Elliot Health systems, are covered before you enroll. This page walks through the steps, costs, documents, and state rules that matter for a 2026 job loss in New Hampshire.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
New Hampshire job-loss enrollees lose coverage or overpay in a handful of predictable ways in 2026.
- Waiting past Day 60 of the SEP. A missed window usually means no Marketplace coverage until the next Open Enrollment Period, and no gap protection in between.
- Entering your old salary on the HealthCare.gov application. Subsidies use projected 2026 income going forward, so reporting last year's pay can wrongly shrink or erase your premium tax credit.
- Skipping Granite Advantage Medicaid. Medicaid is free and year-round, while Marketplace plans cost money even with subsidies, so check Medicaid first if your income is under 138% FPL.
- Electing COBRA by default. COBRA costs 102% of the full premium, often $400 to $900 per month for one person in 2026, and rarely beats a subsidized Marketplace plan.
- Picking a plan without checking the network. Employer networks differ from Marketplace networks, and an out-of-network hospital can cost thousands in 2026.
- Ignoring the 2027 insurer change. Ambetter from Celtic is reported to leave New Hampshire at the end of 2026, so an SEP plan from that insurer needs a replacement during 2027 Open Enrollment.
Granite Advantage Medicaid Eligibility After Job Loss in New Hampshire in 2026
Granite Advantage Medicaid covers New Hampshire adults aged 19 to 64 with income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $22,025 for a single person and $45,540 for a family of 4 in 2026. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) administers the program, and you apply online at NH EASY at any time of year. Unlike a Marketplace SEP, Medicaid has no 60-day deadline, and coverage can begin as early as the first day of the month you apply. Medicaid goes by different names across states, such as Medi-Cal in California and MassHealth in Massachusetts, but New Hampshire's expansion adults are enrolled in Granite Advantage, while children use Healthy Kids. New Hampshire is one of 40 expansion states plus DC, so no coverage gap exists for adults who lose a job. Federal community engagement requirements (80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or school) are scheduled to apply after January 1, 2027, per DHHS and New Hampshire Public Radio, and about 47,571 members would be affected at their first 2027 redetermination. Exemptions, including pregnancy and medical frailty, are still being finalized, so check the DHHS Granite Advantage page before relying on a long-term Medicaid plan.
Why Each Document Matters for Your New Hampshire Job-Loss SEP in 2026
Documents for a New Hampshire job-loss SEP each serve a specific purpose in 2026. A termination letter or employer notice proves the loss of minimum essential coverage and its end date, which sets the start of your 60-day window. Pay stubs and a New Hampshire Employment Security award letter feed the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) estimate that decides whether you land in Granite Advantage Medicaid or in premium tax credit territory. Social Security numbers let HealthCare.gov verify identity and income with the IRS. If HealthCare.gov flags a data mismatch, you generally have 30 days to upload proof before the SEP enrollment is at risk. Keep every notice, including any COBRA election form, because a COBRA election window and the Marketplace window run in parallel and a record of dates protects you if an insurer disputes timing. At tax time, the Form 1095-A from your Marketplace plan reconciles advance premium tax credits against your actual 2026 income.
New Hampshire State Rules for Job Loss: Insurers, Continuation, and Reinsurance in 2026
New Hampshire state rules change the job-loss decision in three ways in 2026. First, the Marketplace is federal, so you enroll at healthcare.gov and not through a state portal. Second, Ambetter from Celtic is reported to leave the individual market at the end of 2026, which means roughly 12,000 enrollees will need new plans, and an SEP pick from that insurer will need a replacement during 2027 Open Enrollment, scheduled November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Harvard Pilgrim, Matthew Thornton Health Plan (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield), and Boston Medical Center Health Plan (WellSense) are expected to remain. Third, New Hampshire state continuation under RSA 415:18 gives residents on fully insured group plans up to 18 months of continued coverage, plus a 39-week option when the employer discontinues the plan, while federal COBRA covers employers with 20 or more employees. The New Hampshire Insurance Department consumer line at 603-271-2261 can confirm which law applies to your plan. State reinsurance, active since 2021, helps hold individual market premiums down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get health insurance after losing my job in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire residents who lose job-based health insurance have 60 days from the last day of employer coverage to enroll in a HealthCare.gov plan under the loss-of-coverage Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Your 60-day clock starts the day after your coverage ends, not the day you receive a termination notice. For example, if your employer coverage ends October 31, 2026, your SEP window runs November 1 through December 30, 2026. You also have 60 days to elect COBRA and 30 days to join a spouse's employer plan. Granite Advantage Medicaid has no deadline and accepts applications year-round at NH EASY. You can also apply up to 60 days before your coverage ends if you know the date.
How do I document my job loss for the New Hampshire Marketplace SEP?
HealthCare.gov accepts a termination letter, an employer notice stating your coverage end date, or a COBRA election notice as proof of lost coverage. Upload the document to your account when the system requests verification, generally within 30 days of the request. If your employer cannot provide a letter, a final pay stub combined with a written statement from HR about the coverage end date usually works. Keep copies of everything, including your New Hampshire Employment Security unemployment award letter, which also verifies 2026 income. Missing documents are a leading reason for SEP enrollment cancellations, so upload them the same day you apply.
Do I qualify for Granite Advantage Medicaid after losing my job?
Granite Advantage Medicaid covers New Hampshire adults aged 19 to 64 whose household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of 4 in 2026. Medicaid looks at your current monthly income, so a recent job loss can qualify you even if you earned more last year. Unemployment benefits count as income. Apply at NH EASY through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services at any time. Federal community engagement rules (80 hours per month) are scheduled to start after January 1, 2027, with exemptions still being finalized.
What if I miss the 60-day SEP window after losing my job in New Hampshire?
Missing the 60-day SEP window usually means you cannot buy Marketplace coverage until the next Open Enrollment Period, which is scheduled for November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 for 2027 coverage. You would be uninsured in the meantime, with no gap protection. Two safety nets remain: Granite Advantage Medicaid and Healthy Kids accept applications year-round, and HealthCare.gov may grant an exception if a documented problem, such as a delayed employer notice, kept you from enrolling. Call HealthCare.gov at 1-800-318-2596 right away to ask about an SEP exception.
What is the difference between COBRA and the Marketplace after a New Hampshire job loss?
COBRA keeps your exact old plan at 102% of the full premium, usually $400 to $900 per month for one person and $1,200 to $2,800 for a family in 2026, with no subsidies. HealthCare.gov plans can cost $10 to $300 per month after premium tax credits in 2026 if your income is under 400% FPL ($63,840 for one person), but networks and deductibles reset. Choose COBRA mainly for ongoing treatment with a specialist outside Marketplace networks or a large deductible already met this year. New Hampshire state continuation under RSA 415:18 offers a similar option for fully insured group plans, generally up to 18 months.
What New Hampshire-specific rules apply after job loss in 2026?
New Hampshire uses HealthCare.gov instead of a state-based exchange, so you enroll at healthcare.gov. Four insurers sell individual plans in 2026, and Ambetter from Celtic is reported to leave at the end of 2026, so expect to choose a new plan during 2027 Open Enrollment if you pick that insurer. Granite Advantage is the state's Medicaid expansion program, applied for through NH EASY. State continuation under RSA 415:18 gives residents on fully insured group plans up to 18 months of coverage. The New Hampshire Insurance Department consumer line, 603-271-2261, can confirm which rules apply to your plan.
Does unemployment income count for subsidy eligibility in New Hampshire?
Unemployment compensation from New Hampshire Employment Security counts as taxable income in Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for both Granite Advantage Medicaid and Marketplace premium tax credits in 2026. Estimate your total 2026 income, including wages already earned and the benefits you expect to receive for the rest of the year. HealthCare.gov uses projected annual income for subsidies, so report what you expect for the full year. Granite Advantage Medicaid looks at current monthly income instead. Update your application if your income changes, and reconcile with Form 1095-A when you file your 2026 return.
What happens to my children's coverage if I lose my job in New Hampshire?
Children are covered by the same 60-day SEP when a parent loses employer coverage, so you can enroll them in a HealthCare.gov plan together with you. Many New Hampshire children qualify for Healthy Kids, the state's CHIP and children's Medicaid program, at income levels well above adult Medicaid limits, and Healthy Kids accepts applications year-round through NH EASY. Check Healthy Kids first, because it often costs little or nothing. If a spouse has employer coverage, dependents can also join that plan within 30 days of your coverage loss.
