When you have certain life changes, like a move or a change in income, it’s important to report the change to the agency that provides your health coverage, like the Marketplace or your state Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agency. This helps make sure you’re getting the right coverage and amount of help paying for it.
If you’re enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP that counts as qualifying health coverage how you report a life change will depend on your situation:
If everyone in your household is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP:
- Report all life changes to your state Medicaid or CHIP agency. See below for more information on how to do this.
- You don’t need to report life changes to the Marketplace unless your state Medicaid or CHIP agency decides you’re no longer eligible for coverage, and you want to enroll in coverage through the Marketplace. If you lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
If some members of your household are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and others are enrolled in Marketplace coverage (with or without premium tax credits or other cost savings):
- Report all life changes to your state Medicaid or CHIP agency and the Marketplace. See below for more information on how to do this.
- It’s important to make updates in both places, since Marketplace cost savings are based on income for everyone in the household, and life changes can affect eligibility for Marketplace coverage, as well as help paying for that coverage.
How do I report life changes?
- To report a life change to your state Medicaid or CHIP agency, contact your state Medicaid or CHIP office:
- Medicaid: Visit the Medicaid and CHIP page on HealthCare.gov, scroll down to “Apply for Medicaid and CHIP 2 Ways,” and select your state from the drop-down menu.
- CHIP: Visit InsureKidsNow.gov, or call 1-877-543-7669.
- To report changes to the Marketplace:
- Log into your Marketplace account.
- Choose your current application under “Your applications.”
- Select “Report a life change” from the left-hand menu.
- Read through the list of changes, and select “Report a life change” at the bottom to get started.
- Select which kind of change you’d like to report: a move to a new state; a change to the way you get Marketplace information; or a life change, like a change to your income or household size.
- Navigate through your application, and report any changes to your income, household members, new health coverage offers, and other information.
- After you report income or household changes to the Marketplace, you’ll get new “Eligibility Results” that explain your coverage options, and if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that allows you to change plans, or for changes in savings.
IMPORTANT: Complete all required steps on your “To-Do list.” The plan selection will show only people who applied and were found eligible to enroll in a Marketplace plan. Anyone who is or may be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP or who is no longer applying for Marketplace coverage won’t appear in the plan selection. Anyone continuing Marketplace coverage must select and confirm enrollment in a Marketplace plan for the coverage changes to take effect. Anyone eligible for a Special Enrollment Period can select a new plan if they want to. Once enrollment in a Marketplace plan is confirmed, coverage will end for the people you’ve removed.
Where can I get help?
- If you aren’t sure if you’re enrolled in or have been determined eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, or if you have other questions about Medicaid or CHIP, contact your state Medicaid or CHIP office.
- If you need help reporting life changes or have other questions, visit HealthCare.gov, or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). You can also make an appointment with an assister who can help you. Information is available at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.