If you’ve recently retired and aren’t yet eligible for Medicare, the Health Insurance Marketplace may be able to help you find health insurance.

While losing health insurance may not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, quitting a job can. You have 60 days to enroll in a health plan outside of Open Enrollment if you lost health insurance when you retired.

You may be granted COBRA continuing coverage if you lose your job-based insurance.

• If you don’t want to take COBRA, you can sign up for a Marketplace plan instead.
• You have a few options if you’ve already started COBRA coverage.

You can switch from your retiree health insurance to a Marketplace plan if you like. Premium tax credits and other discounts will not be available on the Marketplace. You won’t be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if you voluntarily quit your retiree health coverage.

Use a Special Enrollment Period to apply.

• Take a few minutes to check if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, Medicaid, or CHIP by answering a few simple questions. We’ll tell you what to do next.
• Already know you’re eligible? To start an application, go to the Start Page and pick the third button.

Note that losing health coverage isn’t the only life event that makes you eligible to enroll in a plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period. Other life changes, such as getting married, moving, or adopting a child, may qualify you.

For retirees, there are more healthcare options

• Learn more about retiree health insurance alternatives.
• Do you have Medicare? Learn everything there is to know about Medicare and the Marketplace.