Playbooks
Coverage playbooks
Browse practical playbooks for job coverage loss, COBRA, turning 26, moving, Medicaid or CHIP changes, and Medicare timing questions.
Hub pathway
Use this hub as a curated route into source-reviewed pages, then move to official sources before acting on deadlines, eligibility, or enrollment decisions.
Choose by coverage moment
Scan the route list for the coverage change, deadline, or official-source question closest to your situation.
Browse this route
Lost job coverage: what to check first
A guide to first steps after losing job-based health coverage.
COBRA vs Marketplace after a layoff
How to compare COBRA continuation coverage with Marketplace paths after job coverage changes.
COBRA ending: next steps to verify
How to separate COBRA running out from canceling COBRA early before checking Marketplace paths.
Turning 26 health insurance checklist
What to check when dependent coverage is ending around age 26.
Moving and health insurance
How moving states or counties can change health coverage routing.
Retiring before Medicare
Coverage paths to consider when retirement starts before Medicare.
Turning 65: Medicare timing without paid routing
Education-only next steps for Medicare timing around age 65.
Losing Medicaid or CHIP coverage
What to check when Medicaid or CHIP coverage changes or ends.
Unsure whether you have a Special Enrollment Period
A self-guided playbook for identifying the coverage event before relying on an enrollment window.
How to use this hub
HealthPlansGuide is independent and is not a government website, broker, carrier, marketplace, or enrollment platform. This hub organizes educational pages around official sources; verify deadlines, eligibility, and enrollment decisions through official sources or licensed help.
- It can organize source-reviewed pages by coverage question and route you toward official verification.
- It cannot enroll you, verify final eligibility, rank plans, sell a lead, or replace official Marketplace guidance.
Sources
Sources used to check this page.
- HealthCare.gov: Special Enrollment Period (official government source, checked )
- HealthCare.gov: COBRA coverage and the Marketplace (official government source, checked )
- U.S. Department of Labor: COBRA Continuation Coverage (official government source, checked )
- Medicaid.gov: Where Can People Get Help With Medicaid & CHIP? (official government source, checked )
- HHS: Young Adult Coverage (official government source, checked )
- CMS: States by Marketplace Type for Plan Year 2026 (official government source, checked )
- CMS / CCIIO: State-based Exchanges (official government source, checked )
- CMS: Medicare (official government source, checked )
- Medicare.gov: Sign up for Medicare (official government source, checked )