How to get health insurance when you do not have a job

Your job does not decide whether you can buy coverage

Health insurance does not only come from an employer, even though many people think it does. HealthCare.gov, the federal website where people buy plans, says the savings you can get depend on the income you expect to have that year. They do not depend on whether you work.

The Marketplace is the place where you compare and buy private health plans under the Affordable Care Act, the federal health law passed in 2010. One application there also checks whether you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. Those are public programs that are covered below.

This page is general information and not medical advice. If you have an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You do not need insurance to be treated in an emergency, and you should never wait because of cost.

A Marketplace plan on HealthCare.gov

You can sign up for a Marketplace plan during open enrollment, which is the yearly window when anyone can sign up. For 2027 coverage, HealthCare.gov says open enrollment starts on November 1. Signing up by December 15 starts coverage on January 1, and signing up from December 16 through January 15 starts coverage on February 1.

Some states run their own Marketplace and may use different dates, so check yours. These dates are the ones HealthCare.gov showed in October 2026. Federal rules on these dates have changed more than once, so check HealthCare.gov before you apply.

Open enrollment is not the only way in. A special enrollment period is a shorter window that opens after certain life events, and losing health coverage is one of them. You usually have 60 days before or 60 days after you lose coverage to pick a plan, according to HealthCare.gov. You may be asked to send proof, such as a letter from your old plan showing the date it ended.

Ending a plan on your own does not count as a life event. Dropping COBRA by choice does not open a special enrollment period, according to HealthCare.gov. Think carefully before you pick COBRA and then drop it.

Many people also get help paying the monthly bill. This help is called a premium tax credit, which lowers the amount you pay each month for a plan. As of 2026, the larger credits that Congress passed for earlier years have ended. The older limit has returned, and people whose income is above 400 percent of the federal poverty level no longer get a credit. The poverty level is a number the government sets each year based on family size. Rules can change, so use the income tool on HealthCare.gov to see your own numbers.

Medicaid or CHIP

Medicaid is a public program that gives free or low-cost coverage to people with low incomes. CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, covers children and sometimes pregnant women in families that earn too much for Medicaid but still not much. You can apply for either one at any time of year, with no waiting for open enrollment, says HealthCare.gov.

Each state sets its own rules for who can join. Some states cover all adults under a certain income, and others do not. You can apply even if you do not think you will qualify. HealthCare.gov suggests doing so because states also look at household size, pregnancy, disability and age. If you apply on HealthCare.gov and look eligible, your information is sent to your state agency. You can also apply straight through your state Medicaid office.

Congress passed a law in 2025 that adds a work rule for many adults who get Medicaid through these expanded programs. CMS says this rule starts by January 1, 2027, for adults ages 19 to 64 in this group. They will generally need to show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training or community service. Some people do not have to meet the rule. They include people who are pregnant, parents of a child age 13 or younger and people with serious health problems. Your state Medicaid office can tell you how the rule works where you live.

When your state has not expanded Medicaid and your income is low, you may land in a coverage gap. The Medicaid coverage gap guide explains what that means and where to get care meanwhile.

You may be able to join a spouse's or parent's plan

Often you can join, so it is worth asking. If your spouse has a job-based plan, losing your own coverage is a life event that lets you join it outside the usual sign-up time. Job-based plans must give at least 30 days for this kind of special enrollment, says HealthCare.gov. Ask your spouse's human resources office for the exact deadline, since it can be short.

Young adults can often stay on a parent's plan until they turn 26. This can be true even if you are married, no longer live at home or are not claimed as a tax dependent, HealthCare.gov says. A parent can add you during their open enrollment or a special enrollment period. After age 26, the rules depend on the state and the plan.

COBRA lets you keep your old plan for a time

COBRA is a federal rule that may let you keep your old job-based plan for a time after you leave. With COBRA you pay the full premium, which includes the share your employer used to pay, plus a small fee, as HealthCare.gov explains. That is why it often costs much more than people expect.

Compare COBRA with a Marketplace plan before you decide. The COBRA alternatives guide lists several other ways to get coverage. The guide on what to do after you lose your job and your insurance walks through the first few weeks.

How to see a doctor while coverage is being set up

A new plan does not always start right away, so you may have a few weeks with no coverage. During that time you can still get everyday care. A community health center charges on a sliding scale, which means the price goes down as your income goes down. The community health centers guide shows how to find one.

A cash-pay doctor is another choice for everyday care. These doctors post a clear price you pay yourself, and a direct primary care membership usually costs $50 to $200 a month. It is not insurance, so it does not pay for the hospital or surgery. The membership can still cover visits, and some memberships stay useful even after you have a plan. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you.

Read our guide on care when you have no insurance if you need a visit and have no plan. Keep taking any medicine you already use, and ask your pharmacist about the cash price.