CMS has provided additional guidance on its evolving hardship exemptions policy for individuals who had difficulty signing up for a qualified health plan (QHP) through an Affordable Insurance Exchange by the March 31, 2014 deadline. As previously reported, in March CMS announced it had established a “special enrollment period” for individuals who were “in line” but could not complete the enrollment process by March 31 deadline; such individuals were permitted to claim a hardship exemption from the shared responsibility payment for the months prior to the effective date of their coverage. According to a subsequent May 2, 2014 guidance document, CMS believes that “some consumers may not have realized that the relief provided by the guidance above was limited solely to those individuals purchasing QHPs through the Marketplace.” CMS therefore is extending a comparable hardship exemption for all months prior to the effective date of coverage for individuals who obtained minimum essential coverage effective on or before May 1, 2014 outside of the Marketplace, whether the individual is in a state with a federally-facilitated Marketplace or a state-based Marketplace. The May 2 guidance also discusses special enrollment periods for individuals eligible for COBRA, individuals whose individual market plans are renewing outside of open enrollment, and AmeriCorps/VISTA/National Civilian Community Corps members.