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Qualifying Events for a Special Enrollment Period

An event that changes your life — like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage — may qualify you to enroll in your employer's health insurance outside the annual open enrollment period. If you experience a qualified life event, you can change or cancel your current election(s). The request to change must be submitted within 30 days of the life event. The change you make to your coverage must be consistent with the specific life event.

Requests to change or cancel your current election(s) due to a qualifying life event can be completed through ENV Connect. Click here to access your ENV Connect account. If you have not yet registered, please contact ithaca.benefits@icsd.k12.ny.us for a new invitation email.

Life Events

  • Marriage

  • Having a baby; adopting a child; or placing a child for foster care

  • Divorce or legal separation that results in loss of health insurance
    Note: divorce or legal separation that does not result in loss of health insurance is not a qualifying event

  • Death of an individual on your plan that results in your loss of eligibility for coverage

Changes in Residence

  • Moving to a new home in a new ZIP code or county

  • Moving to the United States from a foreign country or United States territory

  • If you're a student, moving to or from the place you attend school

  • If you're a seasonal worker, moving to or from the place you both live and work

  • Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing

Important: You must prove you had a health coverage for one or more days during the 60 days before your move. You don't need to provide proof if you're moving from a foreign country or United States territory. 

Loss of Health Insurance

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or anyone in your household lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days OR expects to lose coverage in the next 60 days. 

  • Losing job-based coverage

  • Losing individual health coverage for a plan or policy you bought yourself

  • Losing eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP

  • Losing eligibility for Medicare

  • Losing coverage through a family member