It’s that time of year again: open enrollment!
The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is generally the only time of year when you can sign up for health care coverage or change your existing plan. Fortunately, you have coverage options.
If you’re buying health insurance coverage on your own via the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, make note of the 2026 open enrollment dates. The deadlines in many states are earlier than in previous years.
Quick Links
When are the 2026 deadlines?
The national health insurance marketplace is Healthcare.gov , and it’s where you can get health insurance if your state doesn’t have its own healthcare exchange.
The Healthcare.gov open enrollment period for 2026 lasts from November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026.
States with their own health insurance marketplaces can choose their own open enrollment dates or stick to the Healthcare.gov dates.
Here are the deadlines for state-run marketplace plans:
| State | State Healthcare Exchange | 2026 Open Enrollment Dates |
| California | Covered California | November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026 |
| Colorado | Connect for Health Colorado | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Access Health CT | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | DC Health Link | November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026 |
| Georgia | Georgia Access | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Idaho | Your Health Idaho | October 15, 2025, to December 15, 2025 |
| Illinois | Get Covered Illinois | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Kynect | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Maine | CoverME.gov | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Maryland | Maryland Health Connection | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Health Connector | November 1, 2025, to January 23, 2026 |
| Minnesota | MNSure | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
| Nevada | Nevada Health Link | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| New York | NY State of Health | November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Get Covered NJ | November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026 |
| New Mexico | BeWell NM | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennie | November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | HealthSource RI | November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026 |
| Vermont | Vermont Health Connect | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
| Virginia | Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace | November 1, 2025 to January 30, 2026 |
| Washington | Washington Health Plan Finder | November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026 |
Keep in mind that most plans require you to enroll by December 15, 2025, if you want your coverage to begin at the start of next year on January 1, 2026. Enrolling later means your plan may start in a later month, so make sure to check your state’s healthcare exchange for specific deadlines.
What if I miss the enrollment period?
If you miss the Open Enrollment Period, you cannot sign up for a marketplace health insurance plan unless you experience a significant life change, like losing your job or having a baby.
Those major life changes are known as Qualifying Life Events (QLE), and they trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which is a window outside of open enrollment during which you are allowed to sign up for insurance or make changes to your healthcare plan.
What are some Qualifying Life Events?
There are many different types of Qualifying Life Events, and the Special Enrollment Period that comes with each differs.
Here’s a quick rundown.
If you have one of the following QLEs, you’ll have up to 60 days afterward to complete your health insurance enrollment:
- A marriage
- A new child. This includes having a baby, adopting a child, or placing a child for foster care.
- A divorce or legal separation —but only if it causes you to lose your health insurance.
- The death of someone on your health insurance plan, if that death makes you ineligible for your current plan.
- A move. You must prove that you had health insurance for at least one of the 60 days before you moved or that you previously lived in a foreign country or U.S. territory.
Losing your health insurance also qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. You can enroll in health insurance via a SEP if you lost health insurance in the previous 60 days or expect to lose your insurance in the next 60 days.
You’re considered to be losing your insurance if you:
- Lose your job,
- Become ineligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare, or
- Lose coverage through a family member.
A variety of other life changes may make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. These changes include, but are not limited to:
- Being released from incarceration
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Ending your term as AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, or NCCC member
A health insurance broker can help determine your eligibility.
In rare cases, a Special Enrollment Period may be granted if you miss the open enrollment window for reasons outside your control—like spousal abuse or a natural disaster. If you believe this applies to you, contact either Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace administrator to discuss your options.
If you are a member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or a shareholder of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation of American Indian or Alaska Native heritage, you are qualified for year-round enrollment.
FAQs
What are the annual enrollment dates and deadlines for Medicare?
The annual enrollment period for original Medicare coverage is October 15 to December 7. If you’re already on a Medicare Advantage Plan, the open enrollment period is January 1 to March 31.
When does the open enrollment period end for my specific state?
States with their own health insurance marketplaces have different end dates to their open enrollment periods, but most end on January 15 or January 31 (which usually gets you coverage starting February 1). For coverage starting January 1, 2026, you usually need to enroll by December 15, 2025, at the latest. States that don’t have their own health insurance marketplaces abide by the federal open enrollment period, which ends on January 15.
How long do I have to wait for my health coverage to start after I enroll?
Usually coverage starts after two weeks! If you apply by December 15, your coverage will begin on January 1. However, if you apply any time after December 15, your coverage likely won’t start until February 1, which means you could wait longer than two weeks.
Can I change or cancel my health insurance plan at any time outside of open enrollment?
If you want a new plan, you can change or cancel your health insurance plan outside of open enrollment only if you have a qualifying life event, like getting married or moving.
Do dental and vision insurance plans have the same open enrollment dates as medical plans?
Sometimes dental and vision insurance plans do have the same open enrollment dates as medical plans, though many dental and vision insurance plans let you enroll year-round. It depends on the carrier.
What is the difference between my employer’s open enrollment and the federal Marketplace dates?
The difference between your company’s open enrollment and the federal Marketplace open enrollment is the time period. Marketplace open enrollment is a set period: November 1 to January 15. Employers, on the other hand, can dictate their own open enrollment dates.
Does a change in income or job status qualify me for an exception to the enrollment deadlines?
No, a change in income doesn’t qualify you to change your health insurance plan outside of open enrollment. However, a change in job—one where you lose your existing health benefits—is a qualifying event, so you can apply for health insurance no matter the time of year. But there’s a caveat: if your job status changes within your current workplace (say, for example, that you switch roles or get a promotion), and you still retain your health insurance, you’re not allowed to change it if it’s outside of open enrollment.
Do ACA Marketplace plans offer better monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs?
No, Marketplace plans aren’t necessarily low-cost. Your insurance premium amount, deductible, and out-of-pocket costs all depend on your income level and the particular health care plan you choose. However, premium tax credits purchased through the Marketplace can lower your monthly premiums.
