Health Insurance Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Deadlines and What to Do

Open enrollment is the one window each year when anyone can sign up for health insurance, switch plans, or drop coverage through the ACA Marketplace. Miss it, and you'll need a qualifying life event to get a Special Enrollment Period. For 2026 coverage on the federal marketplace (Healthcare.gov), open enrollment runs from November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026.

Key Dates for 2026 Coverage

November 1, 2025: Open enrollment begins on Healthcare.gov. December 15, 2025: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2026. January 15, 2026: Final deadline. Plans selected by this date start February 1, 2026. Some state-run exchanges have later deadlines. California's Covered California and New York's exchange typically extend enrollment to January 31.

Record Enrollment and Subsidies

For 2025, a record 21.3 million people enrolled in marketplace plans. That jump was driven by enhanced premium subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, which cap premiums at 8.5% of household income. These subsidies have made coverage dramatically cheaper for millions of people. Four out of five enrollees can find a plan for $10 a month or less.

Whether those enhanced subsidies continue into 2026 depends on Congress. If they expire, premiums will rise for many enrollees. Check Healthcare.gov during open enrollment to see current subsidy amounts based on your income.

What to Do During Open Enrollment

Don't auto-renew without checking. Plans change year to year. Premiums shift, networks shrink or expand, and formularies (drug lists) get updated. Even if you're happy with your current plan, compare it against other options. You might find the same coverage for less, or better coverage at the same price.

Gather your information before you start: expected income for 2026, current medications, preferred doctors, and any planned procedures. Run the numbers on total cost (premiums plus expected out-of-pocket), not just the monthly premium.

Special Enrollment Periods

If you miss open enrollment, you're not necessarily stuck. Qualifying life events trigger a Special Enrollment Period, typically giving you 60 days to enroll. These include losing other health coverage, getting married or divorced, having or adopting a child, moving to a new area, and certain income changes that affect subsidy eligibility.

Employer Open Enrollment

Employer plans run their own open enrollment, usually in the fall for a January 1 start. The dates vary by company. Your HR department will announce the window and any plan changes. The same advice applies: compare options instead of defaulting to your current plan, especially if your employer added or removed plan choices.