Special enrollment if your income is at or below 150% of the federal property level

You May Be Able to Enroll in a Health Plan All Year Round!

Good news! The Health Insurance Marketplace has added a new reason (called a qualifying life event) that might let you sign up for coverage outside of the usual Open Enrollment Period.

Who qualifies for this special enrollment?
You might qualify if your estimated household income for the year is:

• Too high to get Medicaid in your state

• But not higher than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

Usually, you can only sign up for health insurance during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which happens once a year. But if you have a qualifying life event, you get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — a 60-day window to sign up outside of OEP.

How do you find out if you qualify?
Just complete an application through your Stride account. Be sure to enter your household income as accurately as possible. Once you finish, you’ll get a notice letting you know if you're eligible.

👉 Click here to learn how to estimate your household income.

What is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)?
The FPL is a number set by the government that helps decide if you qualify for programs like Medicaid or premium tax credits.

You can see the current FPL guidelines here. Find the row for your household size and look at the income next to it.