Qualifying life events
What, exactly, is a qualifying life event?
A qualifying life event is a big life-changing situation — sometimes planned, sometimes unexpected — that can impact you and your health insurance. Experiencing a significant life change may allow you to change your health plan outside of the annual enrollment period (also called open enrollment).
Qualifying life events include (but are not necessarily limited to):1
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Having or adopting a baby
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Getting married
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Moving to a new area
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Experiencing a shift in employment status
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Turning 26
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Getting divorced
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Death of someone who shares your health plan
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Earning U.S. citizenship
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Turning 65
If you experience a qualifying life event, sign up right away
In most situations, you’ll need to make changes to your health plan within a specific time frame of the qualifying life event. Missing this deadline could mean having to wait until the next open enrollment, which could be as long as a year. For more information, check your plan materials or contact your employer.
If you’re between enrollment periods and haven’t experienced a qualifying life event, short term health insurance is an option to bridge the gap. That way, you can help assure that you’re not without insurance at any point.
Types of qualifying life events
Many of life’s big moments may open the door to making changes to your health insurance coverage outside of the regular open enrollment period. Changes can most often be made either 30 or 60 days after the qualifying life event happens. Here’s a little about each event that might qualify.
If you’ve experienced a qualifying life event, please call the phone number on the back of your member ID card.
When you experience a major shift in your family life, your benefits may also need to change. 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
When it comes to health insurance, turning 26 is a milestone birthday — it’s time for the baby birds to “leave the nest” of their parents’ health insurance and find their own plans.
Another change that can affect special enrollment eligibility is moving. It could be that you’re relocating to an area where your current coverage isn’t available. Or, you might be moving to an area where your current coverage is available, but there are new plans to consider.
A change in employment status — whether voluntary or involuntary (laid off, dismissed, resigned, quit or retired) — is another qualifying life event.
Are you turning 65?
Turning 65 is another moment in time that’s a qualifying life event. It gives you a chance to look into your opportunities for a Medicare plan.
Medicare, a federal program, serves as the primary source of health insurance for those 65 and older (or those under 65 who may qualify for benefits because of a disability or other circumstance).
To find out who is eligible for Medicare, what you should do if you choose to work past 65, who can enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or how to apply for more coverage, you can look into Medicare basics.
There are four categories, or parts, of Medicare:
- Part A: Medicare Part A covers hospital insurance — inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care.
Learn more about Medicare Part A
- Part B: Medicare Part B covers certain medical insurance — doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventive services.
Learn more about Medicare Part B
Parts A and B are sometimes referred to as Original Medicare, and they don’t cover everything. Services like dental work, vision exams/eye care and out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, are not covered.
- Part C: (Medicare Advantage): Medicare Part C/Medicare Advantage is a private health plan combining hospital and medical insurance, plus the potential for additional health benefits.
Find a Medicare Advantage Plan that may be right for you
Learn more about UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans
- Part D: Medicare Part D plans, offered by insurance companies approved by Medicare, add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare and Medicare supplement insurance plans.
Find a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that may be right for you
Learn more about UnitedHealthcare Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plans
Find a Medicare plan
Learn what types of health insurance are available
Get an overview of the different types of insurance to see which one may work best for you — both for right now and to be prepared for open enrollment time.
Need a plan now, but haven’t experienced a qualifying life event?
There are a number of options to help you fill a gap in health insurance if you haven’t experienced a qualifying life event. Here's an option to help you get started.
Short term health insurance
Standard short term health insurance plans2 can help you fill a gap in coverage from 1 month to just under a year.3
More insurance plans
Footnotes
- For more information about qualifying life events and special enrollment periods, visit healthcare.gov
- Short term health insurance plans are medically underwritten and do not provide coverage for preexisting conditions.
- Product design and availability vary by state. Term lengths available vary by state.