A CHANGE AT WORK
Leaving a job? Start with your coverage end date.
Your last day at work and your last day of health coverage may be different. Getting the exact coverage end date is a useful first step when planning what comes next.
Ask your employer for the details in writing
- The date your current health coverage ends.
- Whether continuation coverage is available and where to find its notices and deadlines.
- Which family members are affected.
- A contact for correcting or obtaining proof of your coverage dates.
Can you enroll outside open enrollment?
Losing qualifying job-based health coverage can make you eligible for a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, including when you leave a job voluntarily. HealthCare.gov says to apply within 60 days of losing job-based coverage. Check your own Marketplace’s current rules and your exact dates; an application alone does not mean coverage has started. Official source ↗
Make a timeline before choosing a plan
- Write down when existing coverage ends and when you want the next coverage to start.
- Check the enrollment deadline for every option you investigate.
- Confirm what documents, selection steps and payments are needed.
- Get the new coverage effective date confirmed before relying on it.
Example: your last workday is not your coverage end date
Suppose you leave a job in the middle of a month but your employer plan continues until month’s end. Ask the employer to confirm that end date in writing, then compare it with the effective date offered by each next option. Do not cancel existing coverage or assume the new plan is active until the insurer confirms it. This is an illustrative timeline, not a coverage promise.
Which alternatives should you investigate?
Depending on your situation, you may want to compare Marketplace coverage, continuation of an employer plan, or coverage through another eligible family member. HealthCare.gov outlines options after loss of job-based insurance. Availability, eligibility and cost differ; comparing the options does not mean they are interchangeable. Official source ↗
Bring these questions to a consultation
- What are my options in my state for the dates I need?
- Can I keep seeing my current doctors under each specific option?
- How will my existing prescriptions be covered?
- What is the total monthly cost, and what might I pay when I use care?
- Who can confirm that enrollment is complete?
Sources and editorial note
Prepared with AI assistance using the official sources linked above, checked September 30, 2026. General education only; confirm current rules and your specific options before applying.