Is spouse losing coverage a qualifying life event?
Asked by: Dedrick Kassulke | Last update: July 4, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (45 votes)
Is spouse loss of coverage a qualifying event?
Is a Spouse Quitting a Job a Qualifying Life Event? Yes, under some circumstances. If your spouse's employer was providing you and your spouse's insurance coverage, then your spouse quitting or leaving the job for whatever reason is considered a qualifying life event since your coverage will then be lost.
Can I add my spouse to my health insurance if he loses his job?
Yes, this is considered a “qualifying event” and they must be added within 31 days of the loss of coverage. You must submit a Life and Work Event request through ESS along with documentation from the previous insurance company that indicates the last day of coverage.
Is losing cobra coverage a qualifying life event?
However, you won't qualify if you decide to end COBRA early and are paying the full benefit cost yourself. You also don't qualify if you lose your COBRA coverage because you didn't pay your premiums. Remember, you don't need a special enrollment period if you voluntarily end COBRA during open enrollment.
Can I get insurance without a qualifying life event?
To enroll in health insurance outside of an Open Enrollment Period, you'll need to experience a qualifying life event which triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). In most cases, if you experience a qualifying life event, you're able to enroll up to 60 days after the event.
Understanding Qualifying (Life) Events
What is one example of a qualifying life event?
A change in your situation — like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage — that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.
Who doesn't qualify for life insurance?
People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes, obesity or a previous diagnosis of serious disease.
Is marriage a COBRA qualifying event?
If you or your dependent elects COBRA continuation coverage, you will have another opportunity to request special enrollment in a group health plan or a Marketplace plan if you have a new special enrollment event, such as marriage, the birth of a child, or if you exhaust your continuation coverage.
What is the 60 day loophole for cobras?
You have 60 days to enroll in COBRA once your employer-sponsored benefits end. Even if your enrollment is delayed, you will be covered by COBRA starting the day your prior coverage ended.
Is the IRS qualifying life event 30 or 60 days?
If you lose your insurance, it's considered a qualifying life event. This means if you lost your health insurance in the past 60 days or if you expect to lose your coverage in the next 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
What is the working spouse rule?
The Plan's Working Spouse Rule states that, if your spouse is working for an employer who offers a health plan, the Plan requires them to enroll in that employer-sponsored coverage to be eligible for Plan coverage. Your spouse must confirm whether they have access to and are enrolled in their employer's health plan.
Am I eligible for a COBRA if I quit?
Whether you quit, get fired or are laid off, you may be able to choose your former employer's health plan under a federal law called COBRA. That stands for Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act. It's available if: You were enrolled in an employer-sponsored medical, dental or vision plan.
What happens to my health insurance if my spouse dies?
If the employee had a Self and Family enrollment at the date of death and a survivor annuity is payable, the surviving spouse can continue health insurance coverage. The enrollment must be immediate, and there can be no lapse in coverage.
Which of the following circumstances is not a hardship qualifying event?
Final answer: Buying a new car does not qualify as a circumstance for a hardship exemption for obtaining catastrophic health coverage.
Does your spouse have to be on your life insurance?
Married couples can invest in separate life insurance policies or a joint life insurance policy. While a single life insurance policy will only cover one spouse, a joint life insurance policy will protect both.
Is my spouse covered under my health insurance?
Follow these basic rules when including members of your household: Include your spouse if you're legally married. If you plan to claim someone as a tax dependent for the year you want coverage, do include them on your application. If you won't claim them as a tax dependent, don't include them.
What is a second qualifying event for COBRA?
Second qualifying events may include the death of the covered employee, divorce or legal separation from the covered employee, the covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare benefits (under Part A, Part B or both), or a dependent child ceasing to be eligible for coverage as a dependent under the group health plan.
Is COBRA coverage worth it?
“If you're close to meeting your deductible on your current insurance plan and you have high health care costs, it may be worth it to temporarily stay on your COBRA plan,” explains Donovan. The same holds true if you're far into your employer plan's year and have already met your deductible.
How long can my spouse stay on COBRA if I go on Medicare?
In that case, COBRA lasts for eighteen months. If the qualifying event is the death of the covered employee, divorce or legal separation of the covered employee from the covered employee's spouse, or the covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare, COBRA for the spouse or dependent child lasts for 36 months.
Is losing COBRA coverage a qualifying event?
Losing COBRA Benefits
Here's the good news: Rolling off of COBRA coverage is a qualifying event that opens a special enrollment period for you to purchase your own health coverage. And you'll have more options, flexibility and control of your health plan outside of COBRA with an individual health insurance plan.
Which of the following is not a qualifying event for COBRA?
The event that would NOT be a qualifying event under COBRA is gross misconduct. Qualifying events typically include company downsizing, changes in employment status, and voluntary termination. Under COBRA, individuals terminated for gross misconduct are not eligible for continued health coverage.
How much does COBRA cost for a married couple?
You should expect COBRA insurance costs to be substantially higher than what you paid as an employee because your employer is no longer required to pay a share. In 2023, employees paid an average of $145 per month for an individual plan and $548 per month for a family plan, according to KFF.
At what age can you no longer get life insurance?
Typically, the maximum age at which life insurance policies are issued depends on the individual life insurance company, so there really isn't a universal set limit. However, you may not find a lot of companies willing to issue you a policy if you're age 85 or older.
Are migraines a pre-existing condition?
For example, migraines could be considered a pre-existing condition for some health insurance policies or could count as a disability for accommodations at work. But while migraines can leave you feeling like you're dying, they're not generally considered to be a critical or mortality-affecting condition.
What's better than life insurance?
Annuities offer better investment and income benefits while you're alive. Your return is higher because you aren't also paying for life insurance coverage. Instead, all the money is put toward an investment. Annuities also offer more income options, like guaranteed income for life.