Pennsylvania runs its own state-based ACA Marketplace called Pennie, and a job loss is the most common qualifying life event that opens a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) on it. Pennie replaced the federal healthcare.gov platform for Pennsylvania residents starting with 2021 coverage, so you shop, compare, and enroll at pennie.com or by phone at 1-844-844-8040 rather than on healthcare.gov. The 60-day window that governs the Marketplace SEP is set by federal rules at healthcare.gov and applies in Pennsylvania exactly as it does elsewhere. The clock is tied to the date your employer-sponsored coverage ends, which is often the last day of the month you were laid off rather than your last day of work. Confirm that date with your HR department or the coverage-end notice before you plan anything else. Pennsylvania also expanded Medicaid in 2015, so the state's Medical Assistance program covers adults whose household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026, with no SEP deadline. Pennsylvania residents at small employers have a second continuation option, Mini-COBRA, which federal COBRA does not provide.
Income decides which door opens first. For 2026, 138% of the federal poverty level is $22,025 for a single person and $45,540 for a family of four, and Pennsylvania Medical Assistance covers adults at or below those lines through the COMPASS portal. Above that line, Pennie's premium tax credits (Crédito Fiscal de Prima) apply up to 400% of the poverty level, which is $63,840 single or $132,000 for a family of four in 2026. The 400% subsidy cliff returned on January 1, 2026, after the enhanced credits expired, so households above those 2026 limits receive no premium tax credit. Your income for these purposes is projected 2026 income, including Pennsylvania unemployment compensation, not your old salary. See the federal poverty level guide, the Medicaid income limits chart, and the ACA income limits chart for the full 2026 thresholds by household size. Children in Pennsylvania may qualify for CHIP at much higher incomes than adults, so check every household member before you choose a plan.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
The costliest mistakes Pennsylvanians make after losing job-based coverage in 2026:
- Electing COBRA without first checking Pennie subsidies. COBRA at 102% of the full premium is almost always more expensive than a subsidized Pennie Silver plan when your 2026 income has dropped.
- Reporting your old salary instead of projected 2026 income. Pennie calculates premium tax credits from what you expect to earn this year, including Pennsylvania unemployment compensation, not from last year's W-2.
- Missing the 60-day window. Applications that arrive after Day 60 are not eligible for the Marketplace SEP and must wait for Pennie Open Enrollment, which starts November 1.
- Missing the shorter 30-day Mini-COBRA election window. Workers at Pennsylvania employers with 2 to 19 employees get 30 days to elect, not the 60 days of federal COBRA, and Mini-COBRA lasts only 9 months.
- Skipping the Medical Assistance screen. Medical Assistance is free and year-round for adults at or below 138% FPL in 2026, so a household near that line should apply there first.
Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA vs Federal COBRA vs Pennie in 2026
Federal COBRA applies to Pennsylvania employers with 20 or more employees. Federal COBRA lets you keep your group medical, dental, and vision coverage for 18 months after a layoff, at 102% of the full premium in 2026 (your share, the employer's share, and a 2% administrative fee). You have 60 days from the qualifying event notice to elect. COBRA is useful when you are mid-treatment with a provider outside the Pennie networks or when you have already met most of your 2026 deductible, because your accumulators carry over. It is rarely the cheapest option, since a 2026 family plan often costs $1,500 to $2,800 per month. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department's COBRA page at pa.gov explains the notice and election rules and is the place to file a complaint if your employer misses the election notice.
Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA fills the gap for workers at employers with 2 to 19 employees, who fall outside federal COBRA. Mini-COBRA continues medical coverage only for 9 months, and the plan may add an administrative fee of up to 5% in 2026, so the cost can reach 105% of the full premium. You have only 30 days to elect, half the federal window, and coverage ends early if you become eligible for Medicare. A Pennie plan has no such time limit, so most Pennsylvanians treat Mini-COBRA as a short bridge at most. Compare the monthly Mini-COBRA premium on your notice with your net Pennie premium before you elect. Because the Marketplace SEP window is 60 days, you can elect Mini-COBRA to keep coverage running and still switch to Pennie later if you enroll before the SEP closes.
Medical Assistance Eligibility After Losing Your Job in Pennsylvania 2026
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in January 2015, so in 2026 Medical Assistance covers adults aged 19 to 64 whose household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, with no asset test for expansion adults. For 2026, that means $22,025 per year (about $1,835 per month) for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three, and $45,540 for a family of four. Medical Assistance looks at your current monthly income, so a worker who earned $70,000 in 2025 and has no paycheck in 2026 can qualify this month. Pennsylvania unemployment compensation counts as income, and it can lift a household above the 2026 line. Apply year-round at the COMPASS portal or through Pennie, which forwards eligible applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Pennsylvania uses the plain name Medical Assistance rather than a branded Medicaid name, so look for that wording on the application.
Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation and Your 2026 Pennie Income
Pennsylvania unemployment compensation (UC) is taxable income and counts toward the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) that Pennie uses for 2026 premium tax credits. Pennsylvania pays UC for up to 26 weeks, so add your weekly benefit amount multiplied by the weeks you expect to collect, then add any severance, part-time pay, or freelance earnings. Severance is the most common surprise: a lump sum paid in 2026 raises your 2026 income even if you are unemployed for the rest of the year. If the 2026 total lands below $22,025 for a single adult, Medical Assistance is the better door. If the 2026 total lands between $22,026 and $63,840 for a single adult, Pennie premium tax credits apply, and lower income means a larger credit. Report changes on pennie.com whenever your projected income moves, since the credit is reconciled on Form 8962 when you file your 2026 return.
Documents Needed to Enroll in Pennie After a Job Loss
Pennie may ask for proof that your loss of job-based coverage is a qualifying life event inside the 60-day window. Documents showing the date your coverage ended are the most direct proof: a termination or layoff letter, a coverage-end notice from the insurer, or the COBRA election notice. Pay stubs or a Pennsylvania unemployment compensation award letter document the projected 2026 income used for subsidy calculations. Social Security numbers for every household member who is applying are required, and so is proof of Pennsylvania residency. Upload the documents through your pennie.com account, since Pennie sets a deadline for verification after you select a plan, and missing it can end your coverage. Gather the paperwork before you open the application so the 60-day clock is spent choosing a plan rather than hunting for letters. If your former employer is slow to send a termination letter, an insurer's coverage-end notice or the first COBRA election packet usually carries the same date and works as proof. Households that apply for Medical Assistance through COMPASS need the same income and identity documents, so one folder serves both applications.
- Termination letter, layoff notice, or COBRA election notice showing the coverage end date
- Recent pay stubs or Pennsylvania unemployment compensation award letter
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying
- Proof of Pennsylvania residency (driver's license, lease, or utility bill)
- Immigration documents for non-citizen applicants
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to enroll in Pennie after losing my job?
You have 60 days from the date your employer-sponsored coverage ends to select a Pennie plan during the job-loss Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You can also pick a plan up to 60 days before coverage ends. For example, if your coverage ends December 31, 2026, your window runs from November 1, 2026 through March 1, 2027. A plan selected before the loss starts the first of the month after coverage ends. Day 61 is too late for the SEP, and you must wait for the next Open Enrollment starting November 1. Pennsylvania Medical Assistance has no deadline and accepts applications year-round.
What is Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA and how is it different from federal COBRA?
Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA is a state law that lets workers at employers with 2 to 19 employees keep their medical coverage for 9 months after a qualifying event such as a layoff. Federal COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more employees, lasts 18 months for a layoff, and gives you 60 days to elect. Mini-COBRA gives you only 30 days to elect, may include an administrative fee of up to 5% in 2026 (compared with 2% for federal COBRA), covers medical only, and ends if you become eligible for Medicare. Both require you to pay the full premium, including the share your employer used to cover. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department explains both options at pa.gov.
Do I qualify for Pennsylvania Medical Assistance after losing my job?
You qualify for Medical Assistance if your 2026 household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2026, those limits are $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three, and $45,540 for a family of four. Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in 2015, and Medical Assistance looks at your current monthly income, so a recent job loss can qualify you right away. Unemployment compensation counts as income. Apply year-round at the COMPASS portal or through Pennie, which screens your application and forwards eligible households to the Department of Human Services. Medical Assistance has no SEP deadline.
What documents do I need to enroll in Pennie after a job loss?
Pennie asks for proof that your loss of coverage is a qualifying life event inside the 60-day window. Acceptable proof includes a termination or layoff letter, a coverage-end notice from your insurer, or a COBRA election notice. You also need pay stubs or a Pennsylvania unemployment compensation award letter to document projected 2026 income, Social Security numbers for everyone applying, and proof of Pennsylvania residency such as a driver's license or lease. Add birth certificates if you are enrolling children. Upload everything through your pennie.com account promptly, because Pennie sets a verification deadline after you select a plan.
Is COBRA or Pennie cheaper after losing my job in Pennsylvania?
For most Pennsylvanians whose income drops after a layoff, Pennie with premium tax credits is much cheaper than COBRA. Federal COBRA costs 102% of the full group premium, usually $500 to $2,200 per month for one adult in 2026, and Pennsylvania Mini-COBRA can reach 105%. A subsidized Pennie Silver plan often costs $0 to $300 per month in 2026, depending on age, ZIP code, and income. The exceptions are a specialist who is out of network on every Pennie plan, or a large deductible you have already met this year. Enter your ZIP code, household size, and projected income into the Pennie shopping tool for exact prices before you decide.
What if I miss the 60-day Pennie Special Enrollment Period?
Missing the 60-day Marketplace SEP means you cannot enroll in a Pennie plan until the next Open Enrollment Period, which starts November 1 each year. Until then you would have no ACA-compliant coverage unless another qualifying life event occurs, such as marriage, birth of a child, or a move. Medical Assistance and CHIP stay open year-round if your income qualifies. Short-term plans exist but are not ACA-compliant and lack essential health benefit protections. Your COBRA or Mini-COBRA election window runs separately from the Marketplace SEP, so you may still be able to elect continuation coverage if its own window is open.
Does unemployment compensation count as income for Pennie or Medical Assistance?
Yes. Pennsylvania unemployment compensation counts as Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for both Pennie subsidy calculations and Medical Assistance eligibility. Add your weekly benefit multiplied by the weeks you expect to collect, up to 26 weeks, to your other projected 2026 income, including severance. If the total is at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 for one person in 2026), Medical Assistance applies. If it falls between 139% and 400% FPL ($63,840 for one person in 2026), Pennie premium tax credits apply. Update your income on pennie.com whenever your situation changes, and reconcile the credit with Form 8962 and your 1095-A at tax time.
What happens to my children's coverage when I lose my job in Pennsylvania?
Your children may qualify for Pennsylvania CHIP even when you do not qualify for Medical Assistance. According to KFF, Pennsylvania CHIP covers children in households with incomes up to about 319% of the Federal Poverty Level, roughly $105,000 for a family of four in 2026. CHIP enrollment is open year-round with no 60-day SEP deadline, and premiums are free or low-cost depending on income. Apply for the whole household at pennie.com or COMPASS so each person is screened for the right program. If your children are not eligible for CHIP, you can add them to a Pennie family plan within the 60-day window.
