Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the CoverageCo team
If you missed Open Enrollment, you may still be able to enroll through a Special Enrollment Period if you've had a qualifying life event in roughly the last 60 days. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round regardless of any window. Short-term plans exist but aren't comprehensive coverage.
Key takeaways
- A qualifying life event in the last ~60 days may open a window right now.
- Medicaid and CHIP have no enrollment window — apply any time.
- Short-term plans fill gaps but don't cover pre-existing conditions.
- Going uninsured is the option with the most financial downside.
First: check whether a window is actually open
Before assuming you're locked out, run through recent changes. A surprising number of people qualify and don't realize it.
Losing coverage, moving somewhere with different plans, marriage, divorce, a birth or adoption, aging off a parent's plan at 26, leaving incarceration, or gaining citizenship can each open a Special Enrollment Period.
The window is usually about 60 days from the event, so if something changed recently, check today rather than next week.
Medicaid and CHIP have no window
This is the option most often overlooked, and it's the best one for those who qualify.
Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round. Eligibility is based on income and household size and varies by state, and the limits are broader than many people assume — especially for households with children.
It costs nothing to check, and if you qualify, coverage can begin without waiting for any enrollment period.
Short-term plans: what they are and aren't
Short-term health plans are available outside Open Enrollment, and they solve a narrow problem for a specific person.
They aren't ACA-compliant. They generally don't cover pre-existing conditions, can decline you based on health history, may exclude prescriptions, maternity, or mental health care, and can impose coverage caps.
For someone healthy bridging a known two-month gap, that trade can be reasonable. For someone treating it as a substitute for real coverage, it's genuinely dangerous — the exclusions bite hardest exactly when you need coverage most.
Read what's excluded before you buy, not after.
Plan ahead for the next window
If nothing opens a door right now, mark the next Open Enrollment period and set a reminder well before it starts. Enrolling early in the window generally means an earlier coverage start date.
A licensed agent can confirm in a few minutes whether a Special Enrollment Period applies to you, check Medicaid eligibility, and set you up for the next window if neither applies. There's no cost for that conversation.
Common questions
Can I buy health insurance any time of year?
Marketplace plans generally require Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period triggered by a qualifying life event. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round, and short-term plans are sold outside those windows but aren't comprehensive coverage.
What if I have no qualifying life event?
Check Medicaid and CHIP eligibility first, since they have no enrollment window. Otherwise you'd generally wait for the next Open Enrollment, with short-term coverage as a limited stopgap.
Does short-term insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally no. Short-term plans aren't ACA-compliant and typically exclude pre-existing conditions, and they can decline applicants based on health history.
How long do I have after a qualifying life event?
Usually about 60 days from the event. Some events also allow enrollment in the 60 days beforehand when you know the date in advance.