General information only, not insurance or medical advice. Consult a licensed broker or visit HealthCare.gov for plan-specific guidance.
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Open enrollment

Open enrollment 2026: dates, deadlines, and how to enroll

Federal open enrollment for 2026 ran 1 November 2025 to 15 January 2026. Missed it? You may still qualify through a Special Enrollment Period.

Six steps to enroll in marketplace coverage

  1. 1

    Gather documents

    SSN or legal resident document number, date of birth, current employer and income info, household income estimate.

  2. 2

    Visit the right marketplace

    HealthCare.gov for federal states. The state marketplace URL for the 19 state-run exchanges (see list below).

  3. 3

    Create an account and apply

    Marketplace will check eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, and premium tax credits in one application.

  4. 4

    Compare plans by tier and network

    Filter by Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum, HMO / PPO / EPO, monthly premium, deductible, and OOP max. Verify your doctors are in network.

  5. 5

    Apply your subsidy and select

    If eligible for premium tax credits and CSR, the marketplace pre-applies them. Pick a plan and submit.

  6. 6

    Pay first premium

    Coverage does not activate until first premium clears. Some insurers offer auto-pay setup. Mark the renewal date for next open enrollment.

Qualifying life events for Special Enrollment Periods

Each event triggers a 60-day window to enrol or change coverage outside open enrollment.

EventSEP windowCoverage effective
Loss of qualifying coverage60 days before/afterFirst of month after enrollment
Marriage60 days afterFirst of month after enrollment
Birth or adoption60 days afterDate of birth/adoption
Divorce or legal separation60 days after (if losing coverage)First of month after enrollment
Permanent move (new ZIP)60 days afterFirst of month after enrollment
Aging off parent's plan at 2660 days after coverage endsFirst of month after enrollment
Income change affecting subsidy60 days after changeVaries
Becoming a US citizen60 days afterFirst of month after enrollment
Loss of Medicaid or CHIP60 days after lossFirst of month after enrollment

State-based marketplaces (19 + DC)

These states run their own marketplaces. Residents of all other states use HealthCare.gov.

California
coveredca.com
Colorado
connectforhealthco.com
Connecticut
accesshealthct.com
DC
dchealthlink.com
Idaho
yourhealthidaho.org
Kentucky
kynect.ky.gov
Maine
coverme.gov
Maryland
marylandhealthconnection.gov
Massachusetts
mahealthconnector.org
Minnesota
mnsure.org
Nevada
nevadahealthlink.com
New Jersey
getcoverednj.gov
New Mexico
bewellnm.com
New York
nystateofhealth.ny.gov
Pennsylvania
pennie.com
Rhode Island
healthsourceri.com
Vermont
vermonthealthconnect.gov
Virginia
marketplace.virginia.gov
Washington
wahealthplanfinder.org

Five common enrollment mistakes

  • Auto-renewing without comparing. Premiums and plan details shift every year. A 5-minute compare can save hundreds.
  • Picking Bronze without checking CSR Silver. Below 250 percent FPL, CSR Silver typically beats Bronze on total cost despite the higher premium.
  • Underestimating income for higher subsidy. Triggers reconciliation and possible repayment at tax time.
  • Missing the first premium payment. Coverage does not activate until you pay. Set up auto-pay if the insurer offers it.
  • Ignoring the network. Verify your doctors and preferred hospital are in network before enrolling, not after.

Common questions

When was the 2026 open enrollment period?

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Federal open enrollment for 2026 plans ran from 1 November 2025 to 15 January 2026 on HealthCare.gov. Several state-run marketplaces extended deadlines further: California through 31 January, New York through the end of January, DC through 31 January. Massachusetts has rolling year-round enrollment for ConnectorCare-eligible enrollees.

What if I missed open enrollment?

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You need a qualifying life event to enrol outside open enrollment. Common triggers: job loss (and the loss of employer coverage), marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, moving to a new state, aging off a parent's plan at 26, becoming a US citizen, or losing Medicaid coverage. Each event opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. Medicaid, CHIP, and Indian Health Service have year-round enrollment.

How long do I have to enroll after a qualifying life event?

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60 days from the date of the event for most SEP triggers. Some events allow enrollment 60 days before the change (loss of coverage, planned move). Coverage typically begins the first of the month after enrollment, except birth and adoption which trigger retroactive coverage to the date of the event.

What documents do I need to enroll?

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Social Security number (or document number for legal residents), date of birth, current employer and income information for everyone in the household, current health insurance details if any, and best estimate of household income for the coverage year. The marketplace will verify income against IRS records and may request pay stubs or tax returns.

What happens if I do not pay my first premium?

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Coverage does not activate. Most insurers require receipt of the first premium payment before coverage begins. If you enrol but do not pay within the grace period (typically 30 days), the policy is canceled and you may need to wait for the next open enrollment unless you have a qualifying life event.

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