HealthCare.gov

HealthCare.gov is the federal ACA health insurance marketplace. It matters after a layoff because losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event: it opens a special enrollment period, usually about 60 days, during which you can sign up for a marketplace plan outside the normal enrollment window. The clock starts when your coverage ends, so this belongs in your first week, not your third month.

What it does

• Side-by-side comparison of ACA marketplace plans available in your area
• Eligibility checks for premium subsidies, which many laid-off households qualify for once income drops
• Enrollment itself, plus routing to your state's own marketplace if it runs one
• Medicaid and CHIP screening in the same application

The common mistake is defaulting to COBRA because it's the option in the layoff paperwork. COBRA keeps your exact plan but at full unsubsidized cost; a marketplace plan is often meaningfully cheaper once subsidies apply. Compare both before deciding. Our guide to health insurance after a layoff walks through the decision step by step.

Pricing

The site is free to use; it's a government service. The plans themselves vary.

Who it's for

• Anyone losing employer coverage, whether or not COBRA was offered
• Families whose reduced income may newly qualify them for subsidies or Medicaid
• People bridging a coverage gap between jobs

How it fits an Offboard search

Health insurance is usually the biggest single line item in post-layoff runway math, so settle it early and feed the real number into your budget in YNAB or Offboard's built-in runway planning. While you're handling the government side, check your unemployment benefits through CareerOneStop in the same sitting.