What is a special enrollment period?
A Special Enrollment Period is a window outside open enrollment when you can sign up for a Marketplace plan or change plans. It opens after a qualifying life event, such as losing coverage or having a baby.
2027 open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, per CMS’s July 27, 2026 statement. After January 15, a life event is generally the only way in. 2027 open enrollment dates covers the deadlines and state exceptions.
Which life events qualify in 2027, and how long is each window?
The federal rule is 45 CFR 155.420. HealthCare.gov’s life-event page applies it this way:
| Life event | Window | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|
| Losing job, individual or other qualifying coverage | 60 days before or after the loss | First of the month after the loss, if you pick a plan before it |
| Losing Medicaid or CHIP | 90 days after the loss | First of the month after you pick a plan |
| COBRA runs out, or the employer stops paying its share | 60 days before or after | First of the month after the loss, if you pick a plan before it |
| Birth, adoption, foster placement or court order | 60 days | The day of the event |
| Marriage | 60 days | First of the month after you pick a plan |
| Permanent move to a new ZIP code or county | 60 days | First of the month after you pick a plan |
| Job offers an ICHRA or QSEHRA | 60 days before or after | Usually the first of the month after you pick a plan |
| Becoming a citizen or leaving incarceration | 60 days | First of the month after you pick a plan |
| Leaving a plan because of domestic abuse or abandonment | 60 days | First of the month after you pick a plan |
| Exchange or plan error, or exceptional circumstances like a disaster | Case by case | Set by the Marketplace |
American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll or change plans once a month, under 45 CFR 155.420(d)(8).
Do you need prior coverage to qualify?
Marriage and a permanent move require prior coverage. Under 45 CFR 155.420(a)(5), you need qualifying coverage for at least one of the 60 days before the event. For marriage, one spouse having it is enough.
You don’t need prior coverage if you lived outside the U.S. or in a U.S. territory, are an American Indian or Alaska Native, or lived where no Marketplace plan was offered. Birth, adoption and loss of coverage have no prior-coverage rule.
What doesn’t count as losing coverage?
Losing coverage has a narrow meaning in 45 CFR 155.420(e). These do not open a window:
- Dropping a plan on purpose.
- Losing a plan for not paying premiums.
- Ending COBRA early. COBRA vs. the Marketplace explains when you can switch.
- Losing Medicare Part B or Part D only.
- Divorce or legal separation without losing coverage.
- A plan canceled for fraud (a rescission).
What changed for special enrollment in 2027?
Three federal changes and one court stay shape 2027. Status as of October 27, 2026:
| Change | 2027 status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly window for incomes at or under 150% of the poverty line | Gone. CMS says Exchanges can’t offer it after 2026 | 2027 payment rule fact sheet, May 15, 2026 |
| Tax credit for any window based only on income | None for plan years after 2025 | P.L. 119-21 section 71304; 26 U.S.C. 36B(c)(3)(A)(iii) |
| Checking 75% of new special enrollments before coverage starts | Stayed by a federal court. The existing loss-of-coverage check still applies | CMS statement, Aug. 4, 2026 |
| Losing Medicaid for not meeting work requirements | No tax credit, since the person is treated as Medicaid-eligible | P.L. 119-21 section 71119 |
The stay of the 75% check, noted in CMS’s August 4, 2026 statement, comes from City of Columbus v. Kennedy, a case in federal court in Maryland. If the court lifts the stay, the check could start mid-year. Coverage Decider will update this page if it does.
Can you get a tax credit with a special enrollment period?
Yes, for most life events. A plan picked during a special enrollment period gets the premium tax credit when your 2027 household income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty line. Over 400%, the 2027 subsidy cliff means no credit.
Two cases get no credit. A window based on income alone gets none under 26 U.S.C. 36B(c)(3)(A)(iii). Someone who lost Medicaid only for missing the 80-hour work requirement gets none either.
What should you do after a life event?
- Note the date. Most windows close 60 days after the event. Losing Medicaid or CHIP gives 90.
- Gather proof. A letter with the date coverage ended, a birth certificate or a lease. HealthCare.gov says you won’t qualify without acceptable documents.
- Estimate your 2027 income. Use the full calendar year, including income before the event. What counts as income for the ACA lists what to include.
- Check your savings. Coverage Decider’s calculator shows your 2027 tax credit and whether Medicaid fits. How we calculate lists its rules and sources.
- Apply and pick a plan on HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace before the window closes.
Where do you get the final word?
Rules here are as of October 27, 2026, and this is not legal or tax advice. HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace decides whether you qualify. If you’re denied, you can appeal. Free local help can walk you through it at no cost.