Health Insurance Between Jobs
A 60-day Special Enrollment Period plus year-round Medicaid means you have real options — most cheaper than COBRA.
Last updated: May 2026
Losing job-based coverage triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period on the ACA Marketplace — and may also make you newly eligible for free Medicaid. You have real options that almost always cost less than COBRA.
Option 1 — ACA Marketplace (usually the best deal)
Because your income has dropped, your premium tax credit is now calculated against your new, lower income — not last year's salary. Most newly unemployed adults qualify for plans at $0–$10/ month with low deductibles thanks to cost-sharing reductions.
The 60-day window starts the day your job coverage ends. Apply through HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, or let an advisor file for you at no cost.
Option 2 — Medicaid (if your income is low enough)
With no paycheck coming in, your monthly income for Medicaid purposes is often $0 — well below the 138% FPL limit in expansion states. You can apply any time, with no open-enrollment window. Coverage usually starts the first day of the month you applied, and may even cover medical bills retroactively for up to 3 months.
Option 3 — COBRA (last resort for most)
COBRA lets you keep your employer's plan for up to 18 months — but you pay the full premium plus a 2% admin fee. For a family that was costing the employer $1,800/month, that's $1,836 out of your pocket. There are no subsidies.
COBRA only makes sense if you (a) are mid-treatment with a specific in-network provider, or (b) have already hit your annual deductible and want to keep it for the rest of the year. Otherwise, the Marketplace will almost always be cheaper.
Option 4 — A spouse's plan
Losing your coverage triggers a Special Enrollment Period on your spouse's job-based plan too — typically 30 days. Run the numbers: adding you to their plan may be cheaper than COBRA but more expensive than a subsidized Marketplace plan.
Don't go uninsured to save money
The average overnight hospital stay in the U.S. costs about $13,000. A single ER visit can wipe out a year of "saved" premiums. With $0–$10/month Marketplace plans available to most unemployed adults, going bare almost never pencils out.
See what you qualify for — free, in under 2 minutes.
Answer a few quick questions and a licensed advisor in your state will walk you through your options. No SSN required, no obligation.