If you are currently enrolled in a student health plan, you can still qualify for Marketplace policies and financial assistance if you apply during Open Enrollment. During Open Enrollment, you can sign up for a Marketplace plan and, if your household income is at least $15,060, you can also apply for premium tax credits. You will have to drop your student health coverage by December 31 in order to remain eligible for premium tax credits for the following year.

Outside of Open Enrollment, you cannot voluntarily drop your student health plan coverage in order to qualify for Marketplace coverage and premium tax credits unless you live in a HealthCare.gov state (federally-facilitated Marketplace) and you expect your annual income in 2025 will be no more than $22,590 (150% FPL for a single adult). However, if you involuntarily lose eligibility for student health plan coverage mid-year – for example, if you drop out of school and so lose eligibility for the student health plan – you will qualify for a “coverage loss” special enrollment opportunity and be able to apply for Marketplace coverage and premium tax credits. The “coverage loss” special enrollment period (SEP) will last 60 days from the date your student health coverage ends.  If you know in advance when coverage will end, you can also apply for the SEP up to 60 days in advance.  If you apply in advance, you can elect to have new coverage begin the following day and avoid a gap in coverage.

If you live in a HealthCare.gov state, you will need to provide proof of coverage loss, like a letter from your school, to qualify for this SEP. Log in to your Healthcare.gov account to select a new health plan and submit the required documentation within 30 days–failure to do so will cancel your plan selection. In the event your Marketplace determines the documentation you submitted is insufficient, you can request an extension of the 30-day review period to submit additional documentation. You cannot request an extension for the SEP itself. If your eligibility isn’t verified within 60 days, you’ll need to wait for the next Open Enrollment Period to enroll in a Marketplace plan.

If you have questions, you can use the Find Local Help tool to contact a Marketplace navigator or assister, or contact the Marketplace call center for help.