Here's the short answer. Losing Medicaid does not have to mean going without coverage. First, find out why it ended. If the reason was paperwork, like a missed renewal form, you can often get it back by responding to your state quickly, and you can reapply for Medicaid at any time of year. If you truly no longer qualify, you can buy a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace outside of Open Enrollment. Losing Medicaid or CHIP gives you a Special Enrollment Period, and on HealthCare.gov you have up to 90 days after your coverage ends to pick a plan. Most other coverage losses only get 60 days. Many people who lose Medicaid qualify for a premium tax credit that lowers the monthly bill. And if you think the state got it wrong, you can appeal.
Step 1: Find out why your Medicaid ended
Read the notice from your state Medicaid agency carefully. It should say the reason and the date coverage ends. The reason decides your next move:
- Missed renewal or missing documents. States check whether you still qualify, usually once a year. Not answering a renewal notice can end your coverage even if you still qualify. See how renewals work.
- Your income went up. A change in household income can make you ineligible for Medicaid, which qualifies you for a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period.
- Your child aged out of CHIP. That also qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period.
- The work rule. Some adults ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid expansion group must show 80 hours a month of work or other activities. If your state can't confirm you met it, it must send a notice first and give you 30 days to respond. See Medicaid work requirements for who is exempt and how to respond.
- A mistake. If the state used wrong income, the wrong household size, or lost your paperwork, you have appeal rights. See Your Rights.
Step 2: If it was paperwork, try to get Medicaid back
Contact your state Medicaid agency as soon as you can. Ask whether you can still send the missing renewal form or documents. Federal Marketplace rules line up the 90-day Marketplace window with a 90-day Medicaid reconsideration period, during which people who lost Medicaid or CHIP can have their eligibility looked at again without filing a brand-new application. Even if that window has passed, you can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year.
Two more things worth knowing. Medicaid may be able to pay for care you got in the 3 months before you were enrolled, if you qualified at the time. And if you apply for Medicaid through the Marketplace application, the Marketplace also tells you whether you qualify for savings on a private plan.
Step 3: If you no longer qualify, use your Marketplace Special Enrollment Period
The Marketplace normally only lets you enroll during Open Enrollment (November 1 to January 15 on HealthCare.gov). Outside that window, you need a Special Enrollment Period. Losing Medicaid or CHIP is one of the life changes that qualifies.
- How long you have: up to 90 days after losing Medicaid or CHIP on HealthCare.gov. State-run marketplaces can allow even more time if the state gives a longer Medicaid reconsideration period.
- You can apply before it ends: you may also qualify if you expect to lose coverage in the next 60 days. Applying early helps you avoid a gap.
- Denied instead of dropped? If you applied for Medicaid or CHIP during Open Enrollment or another Special Enrollment Period, and the denial came after that window closed, you qualify too.
- Proof: you must attest that your information is true, and you may be asked for documents that confirm you lost coverage. Keep the state's termination notice.
- Turned down for the Special Enrollment Period? You can appeal that decision.
Step 4: Check what help you can get with the premium
When you apply, the Marketplace uses your expected household income to see if you qualify for a premium tax credit, which lowers your monthly bill, and for cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles and copays on Silver plans. Because Marketplace savings are based on income for the year you want coverage, a good estimate matters. Our guide to estimating income for Marketplace subsidies walks through it, including what happens at tax time if you guess wrong.
Two cautions. The extra savings that were available during the pandemic ended on December 31, 2025, so premiums after tax credits are higher than many people remember. See why Marketplace premiums went up. And if you live in a state that has not expanded Medicaid and you're not eligible, you may have fewer options, because some incomes fall below the range that gets Marketplace savings.
Other coverage to consider
- A job-based plan. Losing Medicaid usually lets you join your own or a spouse's employer plan outside its normal enrollment season. Job-based plans must give you at least 30 days. Ask the employer's benefits office right away.
- CHIP for your kids. Children often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP at higher incomes than adults. If you qualify for Marketplace savings, your children will often qualify for one of those instead.
- Medicare. If you're 65 or older, or have Medicare because of a disability, the Marketplace is not for you. Look at Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, which use Medicaid-like income rules, and at dual eligibility.
- Limited Medicaid. Some Medicaid covers only family planning, emergencies, or tuberculosis care. If that's what you have, you can still apply through the Marketplace for full coverage or savings.
- Job coverage ended too? See Retiring or Losing Job-Based Coverage for COBRA and other options.
Avoiding a gap in coverage
| If you... | Do this | Deadline to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Got a renewal or work-rule notice and coverage hasn't ended yet | Respond with what the state asks for | The date on the notice (30 days for a work-rule notice) |
| Lost Medicaid because of missing paperwork | Contact the state agency; send the documents; reapply if needed | Reconsideration period, often 90 days; reapplying is allowed any time |
| Lost Medicaid or CHIP because you no longer qualify | Apply on HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace | 90 days after coverage ends on HealthCare.gov |
| Can join a job-based plan | Ask the employer's benefits office | At least 30 days |
| Think the state made a mistake | File an appeal (fair hearing) | The appeal deadline printed on your notice |
Free help is available. Marketplace Navigators and certified assisters help at no cost, and community health centers often help with applications. For state Medicaid questions, use our State Medicaid Directory.
Common questions
How long do I have to sign up for a Marketplace plan after losing Medicaid?
On HealthCare.gov, up to 90 days after your Medicaid or CHIP ended. That's longer than the 60 days most other coverage losses get. Some state-run marketplaces allow more time. Don't use the whole window if you can help it. A gap means paying full price for any care you need in between.
Can I get Medicaid back if I missed the renewal deadline?
Often, yes. Contact your state agency right away. Federal rules recognize a 90-day reconsideration period after a loss of Medicaid or CHIP, when your eligibility can be reviewed without a new application. After that, you can still reapply at any time of year.
Can I keep Medicaid and a Marketplace plan at the same time?
You can't get Marketplace savings while you qualify for full Medicaid. If Medicaid starts, end your Marketplace plan. If you keep both, you pay full price for the Marketplace plan.
My kids lost coverage too. What about them?
Apply for them separately from yourself. Children often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP at incomes where parents don't. If you qualify for Marketplace savings, your children will often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP instead. See CHIP.
What if I lost Medicaid because of the work requirement?
Check whether you're exempt. Parents of young children, people who are medically frail, and pregnant women are among the exempt groups. If you weren't exempt and didn't meet the 80-hour rule, you can reapply once you do, and you can still use the Marketplace Special Enrollment Period in the meantime. See Medicaid work requirements.
Official sources
- HealthCare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods (loss of Medicaid or CHIP)
- HealthCare.gov: Medicaid & CHIP coverage, including what to do if you're turned down
- CMS.gov: 2024 Payment Notice (90-day Medicaid/CHIP Special Enrollment Period)
- HealthCare.gov: The premium tax credit
- Medicaid.gov