Your Options After Getting Married
- Join your spouse's employer plan: Most employer plans allow you to enroll within 30–60 days of marriage.
- Add your spouse to your employer plan: Same 30–60 day window.
- Enroll together on the marketplace: 60-day Special Enrollment Period. Your combined income determines subsidy eligibility.
- Each keep your own plans: Sometimes this is the cheapest option if you both have access to affordable individual coverage.
Compare all options. Don't assume the employer plan is cheapest. If combined household income qualifies for marketplace subsidies, two individual marketplace plans or one family plan may cost less than adding a spouse to an employer plan (which often adds $200–$400/month).
How Marriage Affects Your Subsidies
On the marketplace, subsidies are based on combined household income. If both spouses earn income, your combined total may push you above subsidy thresholds. Conversely, if one spouse doesn't work, your household income drops and subsidies increase.
Key Numbers
60 daysMarketplace enrollment window
30-60 daysEmployer plan enrollment window
CombinedIncome is combined for subsidies
$21,200Family out-of-pocket maximum
Last updated: March 30, 2026.
