Is spouse loss of job a qualifying event?

Asked by: Randi Wolf  |  Last update: July 26, 2025
Score: 5/5 (36 votes)

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.

Is a spouse losing a job a qualifying event?

Comments Section Changing jobs or getting/losing coverage for either of you counts as a qualifying life event itself. You don't have to predict what your options will be in the future. Decide then. That's what QLEs are for. Actually, effectively, it only counts for the spouse not changing.

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.

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.

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.

How Job Loss Can Affect A Marriage

34 related questions found

What are examples of a qualifying event?

Qualifying Life Events
  • Gaining a dependent or becoming a dependent through birth or adoption.
  • Getting married.
  • Applicant or dependent lost minimum essential coverage due to termination or change in employment status.
  • Cessation of an employer's contribution toward an employee or dependents coverage.

Why would someone not 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.

Can I take a hardship withdrawal from my 401k if I lost my job?

You may be able to take a hardship withdrawal from your 401(k), so long as you have what the IRS describes as an "immediate and heavy financial need." In such cases, you may be allowed withdraw only enough to meet that need, penalty-free, though you will owe income taxes.

Is turning 65 a qualifying life event?

Insurers understand that life can change, and so can your health insurance coverage needs. So, life events like marriage, divorce, having children, turning 65, and more allow you to change coverage outside the normal open enrollment period so you can get coverage that suits your unique situation.

What is considered a hardship situation?

Income and necessary living expenses: The IRS compares your income against allowable living expenses, which include housing, utilities, food, clothing, transportation and healthcare. If your income barely covers or falls short of these basic expenses, you may qualify for hardship status.

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.

Is losing a job a life-changing event?

A qualifying life event is a big change in your life—like having a baby, getting married, or losing your job—that suddenly changes your health insurance needs.

Do I qualify for Cobra if I resign?

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.

Can I add my husband to my insurance if he lost his job?

For example, if your spouse is laid off from a job and loses their employer-sponsored health plan, you can add them to your plan during a SEP. Other qualifying life events include: Changes in income that effect the type of coverage you qualify for.

Who is a qualifying spouse?

Taxpayers can claim the qualifying surviving spouse filing status if all of the following conditions are met: You were entitled to file a joint return with your spouse for the year your spouse died. Have had a spouse who died in either of the two prior years. You must not remarry before the end of the current tax year.

How to prove qualifying life event?

Required Documents to Prove a QLE
  1. Marriage license for marriage.
  2. Divorce papers for divorce.
  3. Birth certificate for the birth of a child.
  4. Adoption papers for adoption.
  5. Death certificate for a change in household due to death.
  6. Written job offer for employment-related moves.

Does a spouse change jobs 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.

Does it make sense to get life insurance at 65?

If you retire with debt or still earn some income for your family, keeping life insurance in retirement is a good idea. Life insurance in retirement can also help you leave an inheritance and pay estate taxes.

Can I stay on my spouse's insurance after age 65?

It depends on how you are receiving your current insurance. If you are receiving employer-sponsored health insurance through either your or your spouse's job when you turn 65, you may be able to keep your insurance until you (or your spouse) retire(s).

How do I avoid 20% tax on my 401k withdrawal?

Deferring Social Security payments, rolling over old 401(k)s, setting up IRAs to avoid the mandatory 20% federal income tax, and keeping your capital gains taxes low are among the best strategies for reducing taxes on your 401(k) withdrawal.

How long after you lose your job can you cash out your 401k?

The 60-Day Rule

However, you can also rollover your 401(k) account by cashing it out and then depositing that money into a new account (an “indirect rollover”).

Does the IRS ask for proof of hardship withdrawal?

You do not have to prove hardship to take a withdrawal from your 401(k). That is, you are not required to provide your employer with documentation attesting to your hardship. You will want to keep documentation or bills proving the hardship, however.

What will disqualify me from life insurance?

A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Previous injuries might be considered pre-existing conditions, depending on their severity and any lasting effects.

What age does life insurance not pay?

Whole life policies are a form of permanent life insurance and they typically have no age limit. However, depending on the insurer, age limits can vary from around 80 to 85.

What voids a life insurance policy?

These tend to revolve around fraud and abuse. Life insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company. Misrepresenting yourself or providing inaccurate information on your insurance application can cause a breach and void the contract, ending with the claim denied.