Quick Answer: A Qualifying Life Event is any change recognized by [HealthCare.gov](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/qualifying-life-event/) that lets you use a [Special Enrollment Period](/glossary/special-enrollment-period) to pick a Marketplace plan outside open enrollment. You have 60 days from the event — 90 days if you lose Medicaid or CHIP in most states. Coverage loss (job loss, aging off a parent's plan at 26), marriage, birth or adoption, and moving are the four core QLE categories. Your new plan options and premium savings depend on your household income relative to [ACA income limits](/aca-income-limits).
What Qualifies vs. What Does Not (2026)
Events that qualify: job-based coverage loss, aging off a parent's plan at 26, losing Medicaid or CHIP, marriage, divorce with coverage loss, birth, adoption, and moving to a new ZIP code with different plan options. Events that do not qualify: voluntarily dropping coverage, losing coverage for non-payment, or getting pregnant (the birth itself qualifies). If your income drops below 138% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan — check your state's Medicaid income limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to enroll after a qualifying life event in 2026?
You have 60 days from the QLE date to pick a Marketplace plan. Loss of Medicaid or CHIP extends to 90 days in most states. Missing the deadline means waiting until the next Open Enrollment Period, which runs Nov 1, 2026 through Jan 15, 2027 for 2027 coverage.
Does job loss count as a qualifying life event?
Yes. Losing employer-sponsored coverage due to termination, layoff, or reduced hours is a QLE. The 60-day window starts when coverage ends, not when the job ends. If your income drops below 138% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for Medicaid rather than a subsidized Marketplace plan.
Is moving to a new state a qualifying life event?
Moving to a new ZIP code or county with different Marketplace plan options qualifies, even within the same state. Note that Medicaid coverage does not transfer between states — you must re-apply in the new state. Moving outside the U.S. does not trigger a QLE.
