Domestic Abuse or Spousal Abandonment
If you have experienced domestic abuse or spousal abandonment, you can apply for health insurance outside of open enrollment without including your spouse's information.
What to Know
Domestic abuse or spousal abandonment qualifies you for a special-enrollment period. This means you can apply for health insurance outside the regular open-enrollment period.
If you qualify for this special-enrollment period, you generally have 60 days to enroll in a health plan.
You don’t need to provide proof. Your experience is enough to get started.
You do not need to currently have health insurance through Covered California to qualify.
Your children or other dependents may also qualify.
If You’re Applying for New Insurance
When you apply, you will be asked about your marital status and tax filing status. Here is how to answer:
- Marital status: You may enter "single" even if you are still married. This lets you apply without entering your spouse's information.
- Tax filing status: Enter "head of household" if you claim a dependent child (natural child, stepchild, adopted child or foster child) on your taxes. Enter "single" if you don’t claim dependents.
- Do not enter "married filing jointly" or "married filing separately."
- Do not enter your spouse's income.
Ready to apply?
Start an application online and select domestic abuse or spousal abandonment as your major life change when asked.
If You Already Have Health Insurance
Covered California
We’re here to help you remove a partner or dependent from your account or set up separate health insurance. Reach us by phone at (800) 300-1506, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or see all the ways to get help, including free in-person help from a certified enroller.
Medi-Cal
If you or your household members have Medi-Cal, contact your county Medi-Cal office to remove a partner from your account or set up separate insurance.