How long do I have to get new coverage after losing job-based insurance?
You have 60 days after job-based coverage ends to enroll in a marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period, and you can start that process up to 60 days before the loss so there is no gap. Separately, you have 60 days to elect COBRA if it is offered. If you are 65 or older, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare Part B without penalty.
Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · Published August 17, 2026 · Mere Benefits Data Desk
The answer depends on your age and which door you take. Under 65, you are choosing between a marketplace plan and COBRA, and each has its own 60-day clock. At 65 or older, Medicare becomes the main event and runs on a different, longer clock. Also note that COBRA and the marketplace interact: voluntarily dropping COBRA mid-stream is generally not a qualifying event, so the order in which you decide matters.
Your deadlines at a glance
| Option | Your window | Notes for 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) Special Enrollment Period | 60 days after coverage ends, and up to 60 days before | Coverage can start the first of the month after the loss if you enroll in time; premium tax credits may apply depending on income |
| COBRA election | 60 days from the COBRA notice or the loss of coverage, whichever is later | You pay the full premium plus up to a 2% administrative fee; usually lasts up to 18 months |
| Medicare Part B Special Enrollment Period (65+) | 8 months after employer coverage or employment ends, whichever comes first | Enrolling in this window avoids the Part B late penalty; the 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month |
If you are under 65: the two 60-day clocks
The marketplace Special Enrollment Period runs 60 days from the date your job-based plan ends, and you can report the coming loss up to 60 days in advance. Enroll before the loss and your new plan can start the first day of the month after your old coverage ends.
COBRA gives you at least 60 days from your election notice to decide, and it is retroactive to your loss date if you elect and pay. That makes COBRA a useful safety net while you compare marketplace options, but be careful: once your marketplace 60-day window closes, quitting COBRA early does not open a new one. You would generally wait until COBRA runs out or until Open Enrollment (November 1 to January 15).
Example: your coverage ends March 31. Your marketplace window runs through May 30, and your COBRA election window runs roughly the same stretch. If you enroll in a marketplace plan by March 31, coverage starts April 1 with no gap.
If you are 65 or older: the 8-month Medicare clock
Losing job-based coverage at 65 or later triggers a Medicare Special Enrollment Period: 8 months to sign up for Part B (and premium Part A if that applies) without a late penalty, counted from the month the employment or the coverage ends, whichever comes first. Two cautions. First, COBRA does not count as current employer coverage for Medicare, so the 8 months run even if you elect COBRA. Second, if you want a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, that companion window is only 2 months, not 8. Missing the Part B window can mean a permanent penalty of 10% of the standard premium for each full 12-month period you delayed.
Here’s what I tell clients who are leaving a job in their 60s: decide the Medicare question first, then use COBRA only to fill a specific, short gap. Treating COBRA as the whole plan is how people drift past the 8-month mark.
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