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Health insurance can help lower the cost of medical care, from regular checkups to major procedures. As a result, it's a crucial form of coverage for you and your loved ones. Most people can only enroll in a new health plan during open enrollment each year. However, qualifying life events may allow you to enroll in a new plan outside open enrollment.1 Read on to learn about qualifying life event insurance rules and when you may be eligible for a special enrollment period.
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A qualifying life event for insurance is a major change in your circumstances that can impact your insurance needs. A qualifying life event makes you eligible for a special enrollment period so you can switch to a new plan outside regular health insurance enrollment.
Many major life changes may count as qualifying life events, including:3
Getting married can have a significant impact on your financial and legal status. For example, you may need to provide health coverage for your spouse. As a result, marriage makes you eligible for a special enrollment period.
Divorce or legal separation may alter your health coverage needs, especially if it causes you to lose your insurance through your former spouse. For this reason, these events count as qualifying life events.
Having or adopting a child is a qualifying life event because you must provide them with health coverage. In turn, you can select a new plan that covers your growing family’s needs during a special enrollment period.
When you turn 26, you may lose access to your parents' health insurance. Thus, turning 26 is often considered a qualifying life event.
When you turn 65, you typically become eligible for Medicare, which may alter the type or amount of private health insurance coverage you need.3 As a result, turning 65 may qualify you for a special enrollment period, whether you want to adjust, add or reduce your private coverage outside Medicare.
If your employer reduces your hours or lays you off, the change may qualify you for a special enrollment period. However, changing jobs within the same organization or receiving a promotion doesn’t count as a qualifying life event.
Health insurance varies widely by location, so moving to a new address can be a qualifying life event. What qualifies as a new area depends on local health insurance regulations. In general, moving to a new ZIP code may make you eligible for the special enrollment period.
Along with the circumstances outlined above, some other qualifying life events include:
Don't wait until it's too late. Protect yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedIf you experience a qualifying life event, you can obtain new health coverage by following these steps.
Additionally, you may need to find new providers if your covered providers have changed.
The amount of time you have to make changes depends on the type of health plan. For Marketplace health plans, you usually have 60 days before or 60 days after the qualifying life event to enroll or change plans. For employer-sponsored plans, you typically need to request special enrollment within 30 days of the event.4 Regardless of the specific timeline, it’s important to act quickly. If you miss your special enrollment period, you may need to wait until the next open enrollment period to get a new plan.
Insurers understand that life can change, and so can your health insurance needs. That’s why major events like marriage, divorce, legal separation, having children and turning 65 allow you to change your coverage outside the normal open enrollment period.
If you need additional coverage, you can always apply for a supplemental insurance policy through Aflac. We offer a wide variety of plans, including critical illness, accident, life and dental insurance.
Chat with an agent today to explore our coverage options and get a quote.
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Supplemental health insurance covers what your normal health insurance plan may not. Learn more about the types of supplemental health insurance plans available to you.
Interested in health insurance for retirees? Learn how health insurance for early retirees works and some early retirement health insurance options for you.
Supplemental health insurance covers what your normal health insurance plan may not. Learn more about the types of supplemental health insurance plans available to you.
Interested in health insurance for retirees? Learn how health insurance for early retirees works and some early retirement health insurance options for you.
1 HealthCare.gov. A quick guide to the Health Insurance Marketplace®. Updated on N/A. https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/. Accessed June 15, 2026.
2 HealthCare.gov. Qualifying life event (QLE). Updated on N/A. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/qualifying-life-event/. Accessed June 15, 2026.
3 MoneyGeek. Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) for 2026 Plan Year. Updated on April 23, 2026. https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/health/qualifying-life-events/. Accessed June 15, 2026.
4 HealthCare.gov. Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Updated on N/A. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/special-enrollment-period/. Accessed June 15, 2026.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent/producer.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Accident: In Delaware, Policies A371AA & A371BA, Policies A38100DE – A38300DE & A382OFDE. In Idaho, Policies A38100ID – A38300ID. In Oklahoma, Policies A371AAOK & A371BAOK, Policies A38100OK – A38300OK & A382OFOK. In Virginia, Policies A38100VA – A38300VA, & A382OFVA. 38000 series is not available in ID and VA.
Critical Illness: In Delaware, Policies A73100DE & A7310HDE, Policies A74100DE, A74200DE & A74300DE. In Idaho, Policies A73100ID & A7310HID, Policies A74100ID, A74200ID & A74300ID. In Oklahoma, Policies A73100OK & A7310HOK, Policies A74100OK, A74200OK & A74300OK. In Virginia, Policy A73100VA & A7310HVA, Policies A74100VA, A74200VA & A74300VA.
Dental: In Delaware, Policies Policies A81100–A81400, Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A81100ID–A81400ID, Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In Oklahoma, Policies A81100OK–A81400OK, Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK. In Virginia, Policies A81100VA–A81200VA, Policies A82100RVA–A82400RVA. 81000 series is not available in MI.
Life: Aflac life plans – A68000 series/Term Life: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68200, A68300 & A68400. Whole Life: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100. In Delaware, Policy A68100. B60000/Term Life: In Arkansas, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Whole Life: In Arkansas, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100. B61000, Juvenile series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B61JWO & ICC18B61JTO. In Delaware, Policies B61JWO & B61JTO. Q60000 series/Term Life: In Arkansas, Idaho & Oklahoma Policy ICC18Q60200M. In Delaware, Policy Q60200M. Whole Life: In Arkansas, & Delaware, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. Q60000 series is not available in Virginia.
Coverage underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company:
Accident: In Delaware, Policy T37000. In Idaho, Policies T37100ID, T37200ID, & T37300ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T37000OK. In Virginia, Policies T37100VA, T37200VA, T37300VA, T37400VA & T37600VA.
Critical Illness: In Delaware, Policy T71000. In Oklahoma, Policy T71000OK. In Virginia, Policy T71100VA.
Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. Dental claims are administered by SKYGEN USA, LLC. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing.
NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.
Aflac Final Expense insurance coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated and is administered by Aetna Life Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
In Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies ICC21-AFLLBL21 and ICC21-AFLRPL21; and Riders ICC21-AFLABR22, ICC21-AFLADB22, and ICC21-AFLCDR22. Final Expense is not available in NY.
This is a brief product overview only. Coverage/plan options may not be available in all states, including but not limited to ID, NJ, NM, NY or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For availability and costs, please complete the form above.
Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers.
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
Z2400293R2
EXP 5/27
