Yes, in some cases.  The federal Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) requires people to provide documentation of eligibility for special enrollment before you can enroll in coverage.  However, pre-enrollment verification is required only if your qualifying event involve loss of other minimum essential coverage.  For all other qualifying events, (marriage, birth or adoption, permanent move, or Medicaid/CHIP denial) HealthCare.gov no longer requires pre-enrollment verification.  You will be allowed to self-attest to the qualifying event, select a marketplace plan, and enroll.

If you apply for Marketplace coverage following loss of other coverage, HealthCare.gov will let you select a health plan but will delay the effective date of coverage while it verifies your loss of other coverage. If the Marketplace cannot automatically verify your other coverage loss using electronic data sources, you will have 30 days to provide documentation. .

HealthCare.gov will tell you what documents are acceptable to verify your eligibility for the SEP and how to submit them.  Once the Marketplace verifies your eligibility, you will be able to complete enrollment in the plan you selected.

It is very important to act quickly to complete this verification process.  If you do not submit the required documentation within 30 days, your plan selection may be cancelled.  You can reapply for the SEP and restart the verification process if your qualifying event was less than 60 days ago.

If you submit documentation on time but the Marketplace determines it to be insufficient, you can apply for an extension of the 30-day review period to submit additional documentation.  However, you cannot apply for an extension of your special enrollment period.  If your eligibility is not verified by the end of your 60-day SEP, your plan selection will be cancelled and you will not be able to enroll until the next open enrollment period.