# Question about Healthcare plan open season **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2021, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966 "2021-12-13T06:00:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/1 "2021-12-13T06:00:22Z")
I’d really prefer to believe that this has a hard-and-fast answer, but I’m going to err on the side of caution. My daughter will be aging out of her eligibility for coverage by my health insurance in May. For the purposes of my having the freedom to make changes to my plan outside of Open Season, does this count as a qualifying life event? I mean, I’ve not changed my plan since I was hired in 2008, but I’ve got a few changes in other areas of my life coming up, and I wouldn’t mind an extra four months to decide if I want to bother thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/2 "2021-12-13T06:26:10Z")
I’m not sure, but I don’t believe so. It should be a qualifying life event for _you_, not your dependent. Hopefully someone with more specialized knowledge will chime in. In the meantime, you should be able to call any health insurance broker approved by your state and listed on the state healthplan finder (or any health insurance broker, period) and get an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/3 "2021-12-13T13:49:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’d really prefer to believe that this has a hard-and-fast answer, but I’m going to err on the side of caution. I suspect there is a hard-and-fast answer, but isn’t the only one who can provide that is your employer’s benefits office or whoever else provides your health insurance? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/4 "2021-12-13T14:18:01Z")
I’m sure there’s a hard-and-fast answer specific to your employer - but I’m certain there isn’t one across the board. My employer, for example, doesn’t have an open-enrollment period exactly. If I choose to have my premium payment deducted on pre-tax basis, I can only change my coverage due to qualifying events or during the option change period - but if I’m just plain not enrolled , I can enroll at anytime subject to a waiting period. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/5 "2021-12-13T14:22:21Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m not sure, but I don’t believe so. It should be a qualifying life event for _you_ , not your dependent. Turning 26, and “aging off” of your parents’ health insurance coverage, _absolutely_ is a qualifying life event (QLE) for the daughter, and will qualify her for a Special Enrollment Period for buying an “individual” (Obamacare) policy, if she wants to. However, I do not believe that it would be a QLE for the parents, at least not for buying individual coverage. Looking at this page on [Healthcare.gov](http://Healthcare.gov) about QLEs, it doesn’t mention being the parent of a child who is leaving your insurance coverage. However, it sounds like the OP has group coverage from their employer, and that may follow different rules. This is likely a case where the OP needs to ask his HR/benefits department. > **[Getting health coverage outside Open Enrollment](https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/)** > > Special enrollment opportunities > Outside Open Enrollment, you can enroll in or change a Marketplace plan if you have a life event that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-healthcare-plan-open-season/955966/6 "2021-12-13T17:55:39Z")
Thanks. I really don’t want to change her insurance for just the last few months, so I guess I’ll just stand pat until next season.