What should a loss of coverage letter include?

For Marketplace verification, the document should show the covered person's name and the date coverage ended or will end. The Marketplace notice controls what is required for a specific application.

Who can provide proof of lost health coverage?

Depending on where the coverage came from, proof may come from an insurance company, employer or benefits office, COBRA administrator, Medicaid or CHIP agency, student health plan, or another government health program.

What if I cannot get an acceptable document?

HealthCare.gov says to try to obtain an accepted document first. If that is not possible, the applicant may submit a letter explaining the prior coverage, why and when it ended, and why other documents cannot be provided. The Marketplace decides whether it is acceptable.

Proof of Loss of Health Coverage Letter: What You Need

Q: What is a proof of loss of coverage letter?

It is an official document showing that a person had health coverage and the date that coverage ended or will end. The Marketplace may accept several types of official documents, so a newly written letter is not always required.

THE SHORT ANSWER

You may not need a new letter.

An official cancellation notice, employer letter, COBRA notice, or Medicaid or CHIP notice may already work. If the Marketplace asks for proof, the document must show your name and the date coverage ended or will end.

1Your name

2Coverage ended

3The exact end date

Do this first: Open your Marketplace Eligibility Notice. It tells you whether proof is required and the deadline that applies to you.

Check what you already have

Look for an official document from the organization that provided or managed your coverage. HealthCare.gov lists several documents that may be accepted:

A cancellation or termination letter from your former insurance company.
An employer letter saying coverage or employer contributions ended.
A COBRA notice showing when COBRA starts, ends, or loses an employer contribution.
A Medicaid or CHIP notice showing a denial or the date coverage ended.
A letter showing when student health coverage ended.
A letter from another government health program showing the end date.

Some situations require more than one document. Follow the list in your own Marketplace notice rather than guessing.

Who should I contact?

JOB-BASED PLAN

Employer or benefits office

Look for Human Resources, Benefits, or the plan administrator.

INSURANCE PLAN

Member services

Call the number on your old insurance card or termination notice.

MEDICAID OR CHIP

State agency

Use the number on the eligibility or renewal notice.

COBRA

COBRA administrator

Use the contact information on the election or termination notice.

Exactly what to say

PHONE SCRIPT

“Hello. I need written proof that my health coverage ended or will end. Please send me an official document showing my name and the exact date the coverage ends. Can you send it through my online account or by email or mail? How long will it take?”

EMAIL OR MESSAGE

Subject: Request for proof that health coverage ended

Hello,

Please send me an official letter or notice confirming that my health coverage ended or will end. The document should show my name and the exact coverage end date.

Please tell me when and how I will receive it.

Thank you.

When the document arrives, check it

Is your name shown correctly?The person who lost coverage should be clearly identified.
Is the exact coverage end date shown?Do not rely only on the date the letter was written.
Does it come from an official source?Look for the employer, insurer, plan administrator, school, or government program.
Can you read the whole document?If uploading a photo, make sure no words, dates, or page edges are cut off.

What do I do with the document?

If your Marketplace Eligibility Notice asks for proof, HealthCare.gov says it is usually best to pick a plan first and then submit the requested document. You generally have 30 days after choosing a plan to send the proof, but use the deadline printed in your notice.

FASTEST PATH

Log in to your official Marketplace account.
Open the application listed in your notice.
Select Application details.
Select Upload documents next to the request.
Choose the document type and upload a clear copy.
Save the confirmation and watch for a new notice.

Do not mail an original document. If you cannot upload it, follow the mailing instructions in your notice.

What if I cannot get the letter?

Try the employer, insurer, benefits office, state agency, or plan administrator first. If you still cannot get an accepted document, HealthCare.gov allows a letter of explanation. It should explain:

What coverage you had.
Why and when it ended or will end.
Why you cannot provide another accepted document.

The Marketplace will review the explanation and decide whether it is enough. Submitting an explanation does not guarantee approval.

What should I do next?

I NEED NEW COVERAGESee the Marketplace steps →I AM COMPARING OPTIONSCompare COBRA and Marketplace →I FEEL STUCKStart with the full lost-coverage path →

Common questions

What is a proof of loss of coverage letter?

It is an official document showing that you had health coverage and the date it ended or will end. A newly written letter is not always necessary because another official notice may already contain the required information.

Does the letter need to explain why I lost coverage?

The accepted document depends on the situation. For Marketplace verification, HealthCare.gov says the document must show your name and the date of coverage loss. Your Marketplace Eligibility Notice will list what it wants for your application.

Can I write the letter myself?

An official document from the insurer, employer, plan administrator, school, or government program is usually the clearest proof. If you cannot obtain an accepted document after trying, HealthCare.gov permits a letter of explanation, but the Marketplace decides whether it is acceptable.

Official sources

Sources checked September 27, 2026. Acceptable documents, deadlines, and enrollment rules can change. Follow your current Marketplace Eligibility Notice and confirm questions with the official Marketplace.

Protect your information. Do not send coverage letters, insurance cards, application IDs, Social Security numbers, or medical information to The Health Question. We do not review or store your documents.

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