Special Enrollment Periods in Katy, TX: Missed Open Enrollment?

The events that open a Special Enrollment Period

• Losing job-based coverage — layoff, resignation, hours cut, or COBRA running out
• Getting married or divorced
• Having or adopting a baby (coverage can be backdated to the birth)
• Moving to a new ZIP code or county — including moving to Katy, Fulshear, Cypress, Richmond or Brookshire
• Turning 26 and aging off a parent's plan
• A significant income change that affects subsidy eligibility

The 60-day clock

Most Special Enrollment Periods give you 60 days from the event to pick a plan. Miss that window and you're generally waiting until the next Open Enrollment — so don't sit on it.

Just moved to Katy? You almost certainly qualify

Katy is one of the fastest-growing areas in Texas, and a move to a new ZIP code is a qualifying event. If you relocated from another state or even another part of Texas, you can usually enroll right away — and because Katy spans Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties, your exact ZIP determines which plans you see.

COBRA vs. an ACA plan

Losing job coverage makes you eligible for both COBRA and a Special Enrollment Period. COBRA keeps your old plan but you pay the full premium; an ACA plan with a subsidy is often dramatically cheaper. Compare both before committing — declining COBRA doesn't hurt your ACA eligibility.