Yes, turning 26 is a qualifying life event (QLE). A QLE is an event that makes you eligible to enroll in a health insurance plan outside of the regular annual open enrollment period. This means that if you turn 26 and lose your coverage through your parents’ plan, you can enroll in a new health insurance plan right away, even if it’s not during open enrollment.

In most cases, you can stay on your parents’ health insurance until you turn 26, even if you are married, have a child, or are no longer financially dependent on them. This is true for both employer-sponsored plans and Marketplace plans.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule:

• If your parents’ plan is through the military, you may be required to leave the plan when you turn 21.
• If your parents’ plan is through a self-insured employer, the employer may have the right to set their own age limits for dependent coverage.
• If you live in one of the eight states that have extended the age limit for dependent coverage, you may be able to stay on your parents’ plan until you are older than 26. These states are Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to stay on your parents’ health insurance after you turn 26, you should contact your parents’ plan administrator. They can tell you the specific rules for your plan.

You have 60 days before you turn 26 and 60 days after you turn 26 to enroll in a health insurance plan. This is called a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You qualify for a SEP if you have a qualifying life event (QLE), such as turning 26 and losing coverage through your parents’ plan.

If you do not enroll in a health insurance plan during your SEP, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll. Open enrollment typically runs from November 1 to December 15 each year.

There are a few exceptions to the 60-day SEP rule. For example, if you are pregnant and lose your health insurance coverage, you may have a longer SEP. And if you live in a state that has extended the age limit for dependent coverage, you may have more time to enroll in a plan after you turn 26.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for a SEP or how long your SEP is, you should contact your state’s health insurance exchange or a health insurance broker. They can help you understand your options and enroll in a plan.