Losing a job is stressful enough without a coverage gap on top of it. In most cases, though, you have more time than you think, and a gap is avoidable if you move quickly.
The 60-day Special Enrollment Period
Losing job-based health coverage counts as a qualifying life event. It opens a Special Enrollment Period that generally lasts 60 days from the date your old coverage ends. During that window you can enroll in a Marketplace plan, and you may qualify for financial help based on your projected income for the rest of the year, which often looks very different from your income while you were working.
The 60 days runs from the date coverage ends, not the date you lost the job. Those can be weeks apart, and people miss the window by counting from the wrong date.
Three other things to check
COBRA. You are usually offered the option to continue your old plan. It is worth knowing the monthly number before you decide, because COBRA is often the most expensive path: you pick up the portion your employer used to pay. It is a legitimate option, just rarely the cheapest one.
A spouse's plan. If your spouse has coverage through work, losing your job may open their plan's enrollment window too. Ask their HR department about the deadline, because it is usually shorter than 60 days.
Your household size and income. Both changed, and both feed into what financial help you are eligible for.
What we need from you
Your ZIP code, your household size, and a realistic estimate of what you expect to earn for the rest of the year. From there we can compare what is available and tell you what it would actually cost.
The important thing is not to wait. Once the 60 days passes, the next opportunity is usually the fall Open Enrollment window, which can mean months without coverage.