Waited too long after qualifying event, then moved states, and new job doesn’t provide health insurance…

Preface: I know I'm an idiot for all of this. Last year I faced a lot of mental health challenges that impacted my executive functioning and motivation, and I've never navigated health insurance before due to being on my parents' plan, so I didn't realize how strict everything was and how short the qualifying life event time period is.

I did the dumb thing no one is supposed to do and allowed myself to be uninsured for most of 2023. I turned 26 in January, so parents' insurance coverage ended Feb 1, lived in NY, and was at the time in grad school (graduated May 2023). There were so many complicating factors that made it difficult for me to navigate (for example, I tried to get it through school but they messed up and then I graduated before they could get me enrolled), and I ended up just being uninsured.

In October of 2023, I moved to CT. I was working a temporary job with the hope of getting hired permanently. So I was still uninsured. I couldn't establish residency for a while because I didn't have any proof of anything yet, and I genuinely thought I would get hired permanently, so I didn't/couldn't enroll in health insurance through the state website.

Well turns out all sorts of shady shit went down at my old workplace and I wasn't hired. I started a new permanent job on April 1, but they don't provide health insurance. It's a tiny nonprofit. I almost didn't take the job because of that, but I didn't have good prospects elsewhere, is basically my dream job, and is a major step up for my career. And I'm in debt and needed income.

So now I'm in a job without healthcare. I assumed I'd be eligible through the state, but I noticed that I don't just need to provide proof that my job doesn't provide health insurance. I have to provide a healthcare termination letter and previous health insurance documents in the past 60 days. I have those documents from when I turned 26, but they wouldn't be in the time frame to qualify.

The other qualifying event I thought I met was "recent move to CT from another state." I can provide proof of address change, but it says if moving from another US state you also need proof of minimum essential coverage for at least one day during the 60 days before the move. Not required if moving from another country. Obviously my health insurance ended Feb 1 of 2023, so well before the 60 days before I moved.

So…am I just fucked? I make enough to not qualify for Husky D, but I certainly don't make enough to afford doctor visits and whatnot without health insurance.

submitted by /u/Feisty-Sherbert
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