Who Qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
To enroll outside Open Enrollment, you must experience a qualifying life event (QLE). In most cases, you have a 60-day window before or after the event to enroll.
You can only shop for a new health insurance plan outside Open Enrollment if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to a qualifying life event.
What Counts as a Qualifying Life Event
Common qualifying life events include:
Changes in household: Marriage; birth, adoption, or foster placement; divorce or legal separation with loss of coverage (divorce alone does not qualify); death of someone on your plan.
Changes in residence: Moving to a new ZIP code or county; moving to the U.S. from abroad or a U.S. territory; students moving locations; seasonal workers relocating; moving to or from transitional housing. Note: You must show proof of prior qualifying coverage within the past 60 days for most moves.
Loss of coverage: Losing job-based insurance; losing individual coverage; losing Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare eligibility; losing coverage through a family member.
Other qualifying changes: Gaining U.S. citizenship; leaving incarceration; gaining tribal membership; becoming eligible for QSEHRA or ICHRA.
When This Does Not Apply
If you do not have a qualifying life event, you cannot enroll until the next Open Enrollment period.
If you cannot provide valid documentation for your QLE, your enrollment will not be approved.
Voluntarily canceling coverage or missing Open Enrollment without a QLE does not make you eligible for an SEP.
How to Shop in the Take Command Portal
Follow these steps to enroll:
Log into the Take Command portal and go to the Health Insurance section, then select “Shop for Health Insurance.”
Upload proof of your qualifying life event, such as a marriage certificate, employer letter, or lease agreement.
Browse available plans and compare premiums, deductibles, and coverage details. You can contact the Enrollment team for assistance.
Select a plan and submit your application with all required documentation.
What if the 'Shop for Health Insurance' button is missing?
If you have a qualifying life event but the 'Shop for Health Insurance' or 'Have a Qualifying Life Event' option is not visible or accessible in your portal, this is a backend configuration issue — browser troubleshooting will not resolve it.
Contact Customer Experience and include:
Your qualifying life event and the date it occurred
A screenshot of your Health Insurance section showing the missing button
Any documentation you have already gathered
What Documentation You Need
You must provide proof of your qualifying life event. Common examples include:
Employer letter or COBRA election notice confirming loss of job-based coverage.
Marriage certificate.
Birth certificate, hospital birth record, or adoption paperwork.
Divorce decree showing loss of coverage (note: divorce alone without loss of coverage does not qualify as a QLE).
Lease agreement or utility bill showing a new address, along with proof of prior qualifying coverage within the past 60 days.
Government document showing gain of U.S. citizenship or change in program eligibility.
Incomplete or missing documentation will delay or prevent enrollment.
Coverage Timing
Coverage start dates depend on your qualifying event and submission timing. In most cases:
Coverage begins the first day of the month after plan selection.
Some events (such as birth or adoption) may allow retroactive coverage.
FAQs
Can I switch plans without a qualifying life event?
No. You must wait for Open Enrollment if you do not have a qualifying life event.
What if I missed Open Enrollment and do not qualify for an SEP?
You may consider alternatives like short-term plans, but these may not be reimbursable under QSEHRA and may offer limited coverage. Contact Customer Experience to discuss your options.
Can I preview plans before my QLE is confirmed?
Yes. You can use the Take Command portal to browse plans in advance, but you cannot enroll until your QLE is verified.
Why does my portal say 'Shopping isn't available'?
Shopping windows may close at a specific time each day. If you see this message after initiating a qualifying life event, try again the following business day. If the message persists and you are still within your 60-day SEP window, contact Customer Experience — do not wait, as your enrollment deadline is time-sensitive.
Additional Resources
Take Command Health Plan Search: https://app.takecommandhealth.com/health-plan-search
HealthCare.gov: https://www.healthcare.gov/