Qualifying Life Event (QLE)
Definition current for the 2026 plan year · Last reviewed July 2026
In one sentence: An event — coverage loss, marriage, birth, move — that unlocks a special enrollment period outside open enrollment.
A qualifying life event is what unlocks a special enrollment period. The big categories:
Losing coverage — job loss, COBRA running out (not voluntarily dropped), turning 26 and aging off a parent's plan, losing Medicaid. This is the workhorse QLE. Household changes — marriage, divorce that ends your coverage, birth or adoption (coverage backdates to the birth date), death of the policyholder. Moves — to a new county or state where different plans are sold, provided you had coverage before the move. Status changes — citizenship or immigration status, release from incarceration.
Documentation is checked — expect to upload proof (termination letter, marriage certificate, lease). And the clock is strict: 60 days from the event, gone if you miss it. If nothing on the list fits, see what still works.