A qualifying life event (QLE) is a major life change that may allow you to enroll in, change, or cancel health insurance outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
What is a Special Enrollment Period?
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a limited window that allows eligible individuals to:
Enroll in health insurance outside Open Enrollment
Change health insurance plans
Add or remove dependents from coverage
Obtain qualifying coverage needed for ICHRA or QSEHRA participation
Most Special Enrollment Periods last 60 days from the date of the qualifying life event.
What life events qualify for a Special Enrollment Period?
Common qualifying life events include:
Loss of health coverage
Changes in household
Changes in residence
Changes in employment
Changes in eligibility for government programs
Becoming newly eligible for an ICHRA
Eligibility depends on the specific event and applicable enrollment rules.
Does losing health insurance qualify?
Yes. Loss of qualifying health coverage commonly creates a Special Enrollment Period.
Examples include:
Loss of employer-sponsored health insurance
Loss of COBRA coverage
Loss of individual health insurance coverage
Loss of Medicaid eligibility
Loss of Medicare eligibility in certain circumstances
Aging out of a parent's health plan
What does not qualify?
Voluntarily canceling health insurance generally does not create a Special Enrollment Period.
Do marriage, divorce, or having a baby qualify?
Yes. Changes in household composition commonly create a Special Enrollment Period.
Examples include:
Marriage
Divorce
Birth of a child
Adoption of a child
Placement of a child for adoption
Gaining or losing a dependent
Coverage changes may affect multiple members of the household.
Does moving qualify for a Special Enrollment Period?
Sometimes. A permanent move may qualify if it results in access to different health insurance plan options.
Examples include:
Moving to a new state
Moving to a different insurance service area
Moving to a location where different plans are available
What does not qualify?
Temporary moves generally do not create a Special Enrollment Period.
Do employment changes qualify?
Yes. Certain employment changes may create a Special Enrollment Period.
Examples include:
Starting a new job
Leaving a job and losing health benefits
Becoming newly eligible for employer-sponsored coverage
Losing eligibility for employer-sponsored coverage
Becoming eligible for an HRA that creates a Special Enrollment Period
Does being offered an ICHRA create a Special Enrollment Period?
Yes. Being newly offered an Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) generally creates a Special Enrollment Period that allows employees to enroll in individual health insurance outside of Open Enrollment.
This Special Enrollment Period helps employees obtain the qualifying individual coverage required to participate in an ICHRA.
Do changes to Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare qualify?
Yes. Changes in eligibility for certain government programs may create a Special Enrollment Period.
Examples include:
Gaining Medicaid eligibility
Losing Medicaid eligibility
Gaining CHIP eligibility
Losing CHIP eligibility
Becoming eligible for Medicare
What events do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period?
The following situations generally do not create a Special Enrollment Period:
Voluntarily canceling health insurance without another qualifying event
Missing Open Enrollment deadlines
Deciding you want different coverage
Forgetting to enroll
Allowing coverage to lapse because premiums were not paid
If no qualifying life event applies, you may need to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period.
Do I need documentation for a qualifying life event?
Yes. Insurance carriers and Marketplaces often require documentation to verify a qualifying life event.
Common examples include:
Qualifying Life Event | Common Documentation |
Marriage | Marriage certificate |
Birth of a child | Birth certificate or hospital record |
Adoption | Adoption paperwork |
Loss of coverage | Coverage termination notice or loss-of-coverage letter showing your coverage end date — such as a COBRA election notice, employer separation letter, or carrier cancellation notice confirming the date coverage ended |
Permanent move | Utility bill, lease agreement, or address documentation |
New ICHRA offer | Employer notice or ICHRA offer documentation |
Documentation requirements vary by carrier and Marketplace.
How long do I have to enroll after a qualifying life event?
In most cases, you have 60 days from the date of the qualifying life event to enroll in or change health insurance coverage.
Missing the enrollment deadline may require you to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period unless another qualifying event occurs.
How do I report a qualifying life event in the Take Command portal?
After confirming your qualifying life event:
Log in to your Take Command Member Portal.
Go to the Health Insurance section.
Look for 'Have a Qualifying Life Event' or 'Shop for Health Insurance' and select the appropriate option.
Upload your qualifying life event documentation when prompted.
What if the portal won’t let me shop after a qualifying life event?
If the portal shows 'Shopping currently unavailable,' 'Valid proof of coverage already submitted,' or you cannot find the Health Insurance tab or shop option, this is a backend account configuration issue — browser troubleshooting will not resolve it.
Contact Customer Experience and include your qualifying life event, the date it occurred, and a screenshot of what you see in your portal.
Ready to enroll during your SEP? For step-by-step instructions on browsing plans, uploading your QLE documentation, and completing enrollment through the Take Command portal, see 'How to Shop for Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment (Using a Special Enrollment Period)' in the Help Center.
What should I do if I'm not sure whether my event qualifies?
If you are unsure whether your event qualifies:
Gather documentation related to the event.
Confirm the date the event occurred.
Review available enrollment options.
Contact the Marketplace, insurance carrier, licensed broker, or Take Command Customer Experience (CX) team.
Do not assume a Special Enrollment Period applies until eligibility has been confirmed.