Special Enrollment Qualifying Life Events

Your situation: You added a dependent to your household. Qualifying life events include birth, adoption, placement for adoption, placement in foster care or through a child support order or court order.

Apply no later than: Generally, 60 days since the dependent was added to your family.

Coverage starts: Generally, the day of the qualifying life event or the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: You married or entered a domestic partnership. You either added a dependent, such as your spouse or partner, or became a dependent on someone else's plan.

Apply no later than: 60 days since the marriage or entering the domestic partnership.

Coverage starts: First day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: You or anyone in your household will newly gain access to an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) or will be newly provided with a qualifying Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA).

Apply no later than: Notification can be 60 days from the date the ICHRA/QSEHRA was initially offered to the individual for enrollment into an individual plan.

Coverage starts: If the plan selection is prior to the triggering qualifying life event (the first date the person’s ICHRA/QSEHRA coverage can take effect), coverage must start the first of the month after the triggering qualifying life event, or if the triggering qualifying life event is on the first day of a month, the effective date would be the triggering qualifying life event date.

If the plan selection is made on or after the triggering qualifying life event, the effective date would be the first day of the month following the plan selection 

Your situation: Your change in income, household or other status affects your eligibility for cost savings. This includes Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) and Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs). Changes in APTC amount do not apply. Must currently be enrolled in a qualified health plan.

Apply no later than: 60 days since your income changed.

Coverage starts: If the plan selection is before or on the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the qualifying life event. If the plan selection is after the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: Your former employer provided you with coverage. You no longer work at the company that provided your plan. Or your company's plan covered you, but you had your hours reduced. As a result, you are no longer eligible for coverage.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: Notification can be 60 days prior to and 60 days after the loss of coverage.

• If the plan selection is before or on the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the qualifying life event.
•  If the plan selection is after the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: Your spouse/domestic partner's former employer provided you with coverage. He or she no longer works at the company that provided your plan. Or his/her company's plan provided overage for you, but he or she had hours reduced. As a result, you are no longer eligible for coverage.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: Notification can be 60 days prior to and 60 days after the loss of coverage.

• If the plan selection is before or on the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the qualifying life event.
•  If the plan selection is after the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: Your spouse/domestic partner's employer provided you with coverage. He or she has switched to a Medicare plan.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: Notification can be 60 days prior to and 60 days after the loss of coverage.

• If the plan selection is before or on the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the qualifying life event.
•  If the plan selection is after the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: You permanently moved. The plans available to you at your new residence differ from your former residence.

Apply no later than: 60 days from when you moved.

Coverage starts: If the plan selection is before or on the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the qualifying life event. If the plan selection is after the date of the qualifying life event, the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Your situation: Loss of coverage can happen for several reasons. You may lose job-based health coverage, either your own or because of a death or divorce. You may age out of a parent's plan at age 26. Or you could become ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP. These reasons and others like it could qualify you for a special enrollment period.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: Notification can be 60 days prior to and 60 days after the loss of coverage.

If plan selection is before or on the date of loss of coverage, the effective date is the first day of the month following the loss of coverage. If plan selection is after the loss of coverage the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection. *

Note: You are not eligible for an SEP if you voluntarily drop: a job-based plan without leaving your job; an individual insurance plan, unexpired COBRA coverage; or any plan that doesn't qualify as minimum essential coverage.

Your situation: Your health insurance policy that covered minimum essential health benefits expired outside of the standard January-December calendar year.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: First day of the following month if you apply for a product through Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN.

Your situation: Your spouse/domestic partner provided you with coverage. You legally separated or divorced, or your spouse/domestic partner died. As a result, you are no longer eligible for coverage. This may also pertain to you if you are no longer eligible to be on your parent's plan.

Apply no later than: 60 days before or after you lose coverage.

Coverage starts: Notification can be 60 days prior to and 60 days after the loss of coverage.

If plan selection is before or on the date of loss of coverage, the effective date is the first day of the month following the loss of coverage. If plan selection is after the loss of coverage the effective date is the first day of the month following the plan selection.

Note: This is an extremely rare situation. Immediately contact your health insurance provider or MNsure.

Your situation: You did not register during open enrollment due to a factor outside of your control. This is called an “Exceptional Circumstance.” One potential example of an “Exceptional Circumstance” is that you were in the hospital long-term during the open enrollment period. Another example would be if your region was a state or federally declared disaster region. These are two of many example situations.

Whether you can reapply (or apply) is determined by MNsure. Also, this only pertains to plans purchased through MNsure.

Coverage starts: Coverage effective date will be determined by MNsure.

Note: This is an extremely rare situation. If you think there was a problem with your enrollment, immediately contact your health insurance provider or MNsure.

Your situation: There was a problem when you signed up for-or tried to sign up for-a plan.

Whether you can reapply (or apply) is determined by MNsure.

Coverage starts: Coverage effective date will be determined by MNsure.

Note: This is an extremely rare situation. If you think there is an error in your coverage, immediately contact your health insurance provider or MNsure.

Your situation: You think there is an inconsistency between the coverage you purchased and the way that your insurance plan is administered.

Whether you can reapply is determined by MNsure.

Coverage starts: Coverage effective date will be determined by MNsure.

Your situation: You are an American Indian or Alaska Native. You are part of a federally recognized tribe. You may sign up for new coverage with on MNsure at any time.

You can also change the coverage that you already purchased with MNsure. You can do this once a month.

Please note: all other Special Enrollment Period situations apply to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Coverage starts: Based on applicable laws defined by MNsure.

Your situation: You became a U.S. citizen, national or lawfully present. This change allows you to sign up for new coverage on MNsure.

Apply no later than: 60 days since your immigration status changed.

Coverage starts: Based on applicable laws defined by MNsure.