 [ Symptoms ] if i am dissatisfied with my employer is health insurance over 400 poverty can i leave my plan to sign up under aca  are there penalties for leaving an insurer outside of enrollment periods or a life changing event [ Disease ] you can buy a plan on the marketplace but evaluate this decision very carefully employer health insurance is tax advantaged meaning you receive the benefit without having to pay taxes on its value if you buy your own coverage you will lose that as well as whatever portion of your coverage your employer helps pay for most employers cover 70 80 of employees health benefit costs that is all to say yes you can leave your employer is plan and buy your own coverage but in most cases it is not in your best financial interest to do so just tread carefully and you will not be able to make any changes outside of open enrollment unless there is some big event like a job loss