You share many things with your spouse — a home, a family and love. You probably share some less romantic things as well, such as bank accounts, loans and bills. And you have the option to share a health insurance plan, too.
There are different times when you might consider adding a spouse to your health insurance. These include when you get married or if one of you loses their job and health plan. In both cases, you’ll likely have a limited time to make a change.
To help you consider your options, here are answers to common questions about adding a spouse to your health plan.
Did you or your spouse miss the window to sign up for healthcare? Learn how short term health insurance can help you bridge the lapse between major medical policies.
When can I add my spouse to my healthcare plan?
If you have a healthcare plan through your employer or through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you have some options. First, you can add your spouse to your healthcare plan during Open Enrollment.1 That’s a period once a year when you can:
- Adjust your current plan
- Cancel your plan
- Sign up for a new plan
- Switch plans
When Open Enrollment happens — and how long it lasts — depends on how you’re covered. If you have employer-sponsored health coverage, your employer sets the Open Enrollment dates. If you have an ACA plan, the annual Open Enrollment Period normally happens between November 1 and January 15.1
You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).2 There are certain situations, known as qualifying life events,3 that trigger an SEP. You can then make changes to your plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period. Marriage is a qualifying life event, for example. You’ll have a window of time after your wedding date when you and your spouse can make changes to your health plans. One of you might add the other to an existing plan, or you could sign up for a new plan together.
You can also qualify for an SEP if one of you loses your insurance coverage. For example, if your spouse is laid off from a job and loses their employer-sponsored health plan, you can add them to your plan during a SEP. Other qualifying life events include:3, 4
- Changes in income that affect the type of coverage you qualify for
- Getting divorced
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- Moving to a different ZIP code, county or state
- Someone on your policy dies
- You become a U.S. citizen
- You turn 26 and lose your parents’ coverage
SEPs only last for a limited time, usually 30 to 60 days.2 So, you’ll need to act quickly when a qualifying life event happens. You can contact your employer’s benefits department or call the phone number on your member ID card to find out the next steps. Or, if you miss the window, you could explore a temporary alternative, like short term health insurance.
Short term health insurance can provide temporary coverage to bridge the gap between major medical insurance policies. These might include Open Enrollment for an employer or ACA plan or qualifying for Medicare.
It’s important to understand that short term health insurance does not provide the essential health benefits mandated under the Affordable Care Act or coverage for preexisting conditions. It is not comprehensive major medical insurance and is subject to medical underwriting.
If your spouse needs temporary healthcare before they can join your health insurance, short term health insurance may be an option. Learn more.
Coverage for domestic partners and unmarried couples: Can I add a significant other to my plan if we’re not married?
You may be able to add your long-term significant other to your health plan if you’re in a domestic partnership. Generally, a domestic partnership is a committed relationship between two adults who live together. There are more specific rules depending on what state you live in. You usually have to provide documentation to prove your relationship meets all the rules.
However, not all states recognize domestic partnerships. And even if they do, it may still be up to your employer or health plan to decide whether they’ll allow you to add a domestic partner to your plan.
Comparing a joint family health insurance plan to individual healthcare coverage: Is it better for me and my spouse to be on the same plan or have our own plans?
You don’t have to be on the same health insurance plan as your spouse. In fact, there are some situations in which you may be better off on separate plans. Here are some questions to consider:
Do you both have access to employer-sponsored health insurance?
You may save money if you each have your own plan through your job, since an employer may cover more of an employee’s premium than the spouse’s. So, you may pay a higher monthly insurance bill (premium) if you join a spouse’s plan.
Who has the better health plan?
Monthly insurance bills aren’t the only cost to consider. There may be other financial reasons to be on the same plan. One plan may have a much lower deductible, for example, which may make it more affordable. Your plans may cover different things, too. You’ll want to look at your plan’s summary of benefits for all the details.
Are your current doctors covered?
If your current doctors aren’t in your spouse’s health plan network, you may prefer to keep your own plan. Check the list of providers to see which plans have a match for both of you, says Adria Gross. She’s CEO and founder of MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, New York.
Who has the more stable job?
If you’re relying on an employer-sponsored health plan, you’ll want to consider how stable your jobs are. Losing a job can disrupt your health coverage
How much care do you each need?
Individual plans have lower deductibles. If one of you has a health condition that requires lots of care, it might make sense for that person to be on their own plan. That way, they’ll have a lower deductible to meet, and their plan may cover a larger portion of their medical expenses.
Do you have children?
If you do, it might make sense for you all to be on one family plan. Family plans have a higher deductible and higher out-of-pocket maximum. But the more people on the plan, the faster you’ll likely meet that deductible and even out-of-pocket maximum. But again, it’s important to compare plans to find the most cost-effective solution that fits your needs.”
Dual coverage and secondary health insurance for couples: Can I keep my plan and join my spouse’s plan?
Yes, you can. If you already have health insurance, you can also opt to go on your spouse’s as a form of secondary insurance, says Gross. Your primary insurance will pay its share of your medical costs first. Then the remaining bill goes to your secondary insurance, which may cover part, or even all, of the remaining cost.
“It can be very helpful if you have unexpected medical costs, such as ending up in the hospital,” Gross explains. But since it’s quite expensive to pay two insurance bills, you’ll want to take a close look at the policy and decide whether it’s worth it, she advises.
If you decide to do this, you’ll want to work with both insurance companies to set up a coordination of benefits (COB). The COB helps claims get processed correctly. It will determine which plan pays first (the “primary” plan) and how the second plan may help cover remaining eligible costs.5
Job-related loss of coverage: What other options does my spouse have if they lose their coverage?
If you or your spouse ever lose your insurance coverage, joining the other’s health plan isn’t the only option.
If you choose an ACA plan, you may be eligible for premium tax credits, depending on your household income.6 So, it could be less expensive than joining your spouse’s employer-sponsored insurance plan.
If you lose an employer-sponsored plan, you may be able to keep your coverage through COBRA, which stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.7 It’s a federal law that allows you to stay on your employer’s health plan after you lose or leave a job. The catch is that you have to pay the full price for the plan. Since employers usually pay a large part of your plan’s monthly premium, COBRA is often expensive.
If you think you’ll be without coverage only temporarily, you could also consider short term health insurance. You can typically apply for a short term medical plan at any time and stay on it for up to 12 months (less one day). This type of plan is a good option if you just need something to bridge a lapse in coverage between insurance plans.
Again, it’s important to remember that short term health plans are subject to medical underwriting and are limited policies that have fewer benefits and Federal protections than other types of health insurance options, like those on HealthCare.gov.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to add my spouse to my health insurance plan after getting married?
In most cases, you will have 30 to 60 days after getting married to add your spouse to your health insurance plan.2 Marriage is a qualifying life event (QLE) that triggers a Special Enrollment Period. The exact timeframe depends on whether you have an employer or an ACA health plan, so it’s important to check your plan details and act quickly.
Can I add my girlfriend or boyfriend to my health insurance?
Some employers and health insurance plans may allow coverage for a domestic partner if you meet certain state or plan requirements and provide documentation of your relationship.
Is it cheaper to have health insurance through a spouse?
Not always. While family plans offer shared deductibles, many employers subsidize a larger portion of the premium for the employee than for their spouse, potentially making separate plans more affordable.
What happens to my health insurance if I get married mid-year?
You can trigger a Special Enrollment Period to add your spouse or switch plans usually within 30 to 60 days of the marriage certificate date, rather than waiting for the annual Open Enrollment Period.2
Medical insurance advocate Adria Gross is CEO and founder of MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, New York.
For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.
If it sounds like a short term health plan could be a good fit for you or your partner, you can learn more or shop plans with a licensed insurance agent. Call 1-844-211-7730 for more information.
Sources:
- Healthcare.gov. “Open enrollment period.” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/open-enrollment-period/
- Healthcare.gov. “Special enrollment period (SEP).” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/special-enrollment-period/
- Healthcare.gov. “Qualifying life event (QLE).” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/qualifying-life-event/
- Healthcare.gov. “Special enrollment opportunities.” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
- Healthinsurance.org. “Coordination of Benefits.” Accesses May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/coordination-of-benefits/
- Healthcare.gov. “Premium Tax Credit.” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/premium-tax-credit/
- U.S. Department of Labor. “COBRA continuation coverage.” Accessed May 21, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/cobra
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