Key takeaways:
The annual open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces is at the end of the calendar year for coverage beginning on January 1.
To complete the application for coverage, you will need information about each person in your household, your taxes, and an estimate of your household income.
The 2026 coverage year is the first time since 2021 that ACA enrollees do not have access to enhanced premium tax credits that made plans affordable for millions of individuals and families.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is commonly known as Obamacare. The comprehensive ACA law has three main goals:
Make affordable health insurance available to more people
Expand the Medicaid program
Support medical care delivery that reduces costs
What is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period?
You can apply for marketplace health insurance or renew your coverage during the annual open enrollment period. The national marketplace website, HealthCare.gov, and state marketplaces have closed their annual open enrollment period for 2026 coverage. They will begin accepting applications for 2027 health coverage in late 2026.
After open enrollment closes, your access to an ACA insurance plan is typically limited to a special enrollment period.
What is the deadline for ACA enrollment?
The enrollment deadline for 2026 coverage depends on where you live in the U.S. The deadline for most people was January 15, 2026. For the 2027 coverage year, open enrollment will become more uniform nationwide. The enrollment period for all will end on December 31, 2026. More on that later.
2026 deadlines
Some states and Washington, D.C., extended the open enrollment period beyond the HealthCare.gov window. Those open enrollment deadlines for 2026 coverage were:
California: January 31, 2026
Connecticut: January 31, 2026
Illinois: January 31, 2026
Massachusetts: January 23, 2026
New Jersey: January 31, 2026
New York: January 31, 2026
Pennsylvania: January 31, 2026
Rhode Island: January 31, 2026
Virginia: January 30, 2026
Washington, D.C.: January 31, 2026
One state had a different open enrollment window:
Idaho: October 15 to December 15, 2025
Special enrollment period
After open enrollment — from January 16, 2026, through October 31, 2026 — you may have a life change that qualifies you for a special enrollment period.
You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you have certain life events, including:
Losing health coverage
Moving to a new state
Getting married
Having a baby
Adopting a child
Leaving incarceration
2027 deadlines
Starting in the fall of 2026 for the 2027 coverage year, open enrollment will become more uniform nationwide. Regardless of where you live and whether you use HealthCare.gov or a state marketplace, the open enrollment period must:
Begin no later than November 1
End by December 31
Last no longer than 9 weeks
HealthCare.gov is expected to have open enrollment for the 2027 coverage year from November 1 to December 15, 2026.
Where can you find the open enrollment period for your state?
Specific open enrollment periods can be found on the marketplace in your state or via HealthCare.gov. People in U.S. territories can enroll only if they qualify as residents of Washington, D.C., or one of the states.
If you live in Washington, D.C., or the following 20 states, you will enroll through a state marketplace:
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
If you live in any other state, you will enroll through the HealthCare.gov national marketplace.
What happens if you miss the ACA open enrollment period?
If you need coverage in 2026 for yourself or your family members — and missed open enrollment deadlines — you may have to wait until the next annual open enrollment period in late 2026. That will provide health insurance coverage in 2027.
If you have a life change after the deadline for 2026 coverage, you may still be able to access health insurance. This is called a special enrollment period.
A low-income special enrollment period — for people with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level — was eliminated for the 2026 coverage year.
What do you need to prepare for ACA enrollment?
ACA enrollment requires you to complete a marketplace application. You will need to have some information about you, the people in your household, and your income.
The application will ask you about:
Who you are: Basic information including your name and date of birth.
Your household: Your spouse or partner, children in your home, and all dependents.
Where you live: Your home or mailing address.
Everyone applying for coverage: Social Security numbers and other information about everyone seeking health insurance coverage.
Your taxes: How you file — separately or jointly — and how everyone you claim as a dependent files.
Your income: Your employer and what you made from wages, tips, and other sources last year.
Your 2026 estimated income: Your best guess about your 2026 household income.
Other insurance: Your health coverage from employment, Medicaid, and other health plans.
Health reimbursement: If anyone in the household works for a business that offers help paying for health expenses through a health reimbursement arrangement.
When your application is completed, you will need to pay your first premium (if you have one) to the insurance company for your coverage to begin.
Who is eligible for ACA open enrollment?
Many people who need health insurance will qualify for an ACA health insurance plan. You are eligible to enroll for 2026 coverage if you:
Live in the U.S.
Are a U.S. citizen, are a U.S. national, or are lawfully present in the U.S. (Undocumented individuals can access marketplace plans in Washington and Colorado)
Are not incarcerated
Are not covered by Medicare
Washington state lets undocumented people use its marketplace. Colorado has a separate site, called OmniSalud, for undocumented people to enroll in coverage.
How can I save on ACA coverage?
Enhanced premium tax credits had significantly lowered premiums and expanded the population eligible for savings since 2021. These were eliminated for the 2026 coverage year. As a result, many people have higher premiums, or the amount they pay monthly to have a health insurance plan.
Still, you can use the standard premium tax credit — known as a premium subsidy — to reduce your monthly insurance payment for an ACA plan if your household income is 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. The tax credit is based on your household information and the 2026 income estimate on your application.
In addition, some people will qualify for cost-sharing reductions. These are extra savings on out-of-pocket expenses — such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance — when you receive care. You may be able to buy a platinum or gold plan, which usually have the lowest out-of-pocket costs when you receive care.
Which tools are available to help you select ACA coverage?
Choosing the marketplace plan that best fits your needs can be difficult because there are many options. There are tools and other resources to help you select the ACA plan that is right for you and your family, such as:
ACA marketplace income levels & savings tool: Find exact plan prices and what you might save on premiums.
KFF health insurance marketplace calculator: This tool helps you estimate your potential premiums and subsidies.
ACA navigator: A trained individual or organization representative to walk you through the marketplace process, including eligibility and enrollment. These services are free.
The Find Local Help tool will help you locate in-person assistance in your area.
If you still have questions, contact the Marketplace Call Center at 800-318-2596. This line is available 24-7, excluding holidays.
Frequently asked questions
If you want an ACA plan outside open enrollment, you will need to have a qualifying life event that makes you eligible for a special enrollment period. Otherwise, you may be able to get health insurance from other sources, including job-based insurance or the plan of a spouse or domestic partner. You may also qualify for Medicare or coverage on a parent’s plan, but when you can enroll may be limited. You can apply for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage anytime of year.
The individual mandate that once required people in the U.S. to have insurance or pay a penalty no longer exists. A few states and Washington, D.C., still have health insurance mandates with penalties for not having coverage. Other states have a reporting requirement without a penalty.
If you want an ACA plan outside open enrollment, you will need to have a qualifying life event that makes you eligible for a special enrollment period. Otherwise, you may be able to get health insurance from other sources, including job-based insurance or the plan of a spouse or domestic partner. You may also qualify for Medicare or coverage on a parent’s plan, but when you can enroll may be limited. You can apply for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage anytime of year.
The individual mandate that once required people in the U.S. to have insurance or pay a penalty no longer exists. A few states and Washington, D.C., still have health insurance mandates with penalties for not having coverage. Other states have a reporting requirement without a penalty.
The bottom line
The annual open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces is at the end of the year for coverage beginning January 1. ACA open enrollment is a yearly opportunity to join, switch, or drop health coverage for you and others in your household. If you need help, use one of the online tools, find a navigator, or contact the Marketplace Call Center.
Why trust our experts?
References
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