Can I Enroll in ObamaCare After COBRA?
My COBRA insurance will be expiring soon, but not before the deadlines. I can’t switch my insurance now, I’m in the midst of a couple medical procedures, and if anything glitches, I’m in trouble. I won’t be making any kind of switch until May. Can I sign up then, when my COBRA expires?
Answer
When your COBRA expires it will trigger a special enrollment period allowing you to switch to a Marketplace plan.
Losing other health coverage (for example due to a job loss, divorce, loss of eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP, expiration of COBRA coverage, or a health plan being decertified) triggers a specail enrollment period of 120 days. That period starts 60 days before you lose coverage, and extends until 60 days after.
Note: Voluntarily quitting other health coverage or being terminated for not paying your premiums are not considered loss of coverage. Losing coverage that is not minimum essential coverage is also not considered loss of coverage.)