What are some qualifying events for a special enrollment period?

A special enrollment period allows individuals to enroll in a health insurance plan outside of the standard open enrollment period due to certain qualifying events. These events are significant life changes that affect your health coverage needs. The correct answer includes marriage, the birth of a child, and loss of other health coverage, all of which are recognized by the Affordable Care Act as qualifying events.

Marriage represents a change in personal status, typically triggering the need for health coverage adjustments due to the potential inclusion of a spouse in the plan. The birth of a child creates new coverage needs for the newborn, necessitating the addition of the child to the parent's health plan. Loss of other health coverage could occur due to a variety of circumstances like job loss or expiration of a policy, which would require an individual to seek new health insurance.

Other options present situations that, while they are significant life changes, do not qualify for special enrollment periods. For example, returning to school or seasonal employment does not directly impact health coverage eligibility in the same way that marriage or childbirth does. Retirement and reaching age 26 are also related to common transitions but do not necessarily make one eligible for a special enrollment period on their own.