Open Enrollment 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before the Deadline

Open Enrollment is the annual period when you can enroll in, switch, or change your health insurance plan. Outside this window, you can only make changes if you experience a qualifying life event. For 2026, marketplace Open Enrollment runs November 1 through January 15. Missing the deadline means waiting until next year - or going uninsured.

Who Needs to Take Action During Open Enrollment

Everyone with marketplace insurance. Even if you want to keep your current plan, review it. Plans change every year - premiums increase, networks shrink, formularies change, and new options appear. Auto-renewal keeps you covered, but it doesn't keep you on the best plan. Spending 30 minutes comparing options can save hundreds.

The uninsured. If you don't have coverage through an employer, Medicare, or Medicaid, Open Enrollment is your chance to get insured. With subsidies, many people qualify for plans under $100/month or even $0/month.

People with employer coverage - sometimes. Most employers run their own open enrollment period (typically October-November). If your employer plan is changing, or if marketplace plans with subsidies would be cheaper, compare both options.

Step-by-Step Open Enrollment Checklist

1. Gather your information. You'll need Social Security numbers for everyone in your household, income documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, or estimated annual income), and current plan details if you're switching.

2. Estimate your healthcare needs for the coming year. Are you planning any procedures? Do you have ongoing prescriptions? Are you pregnant or planning to be? This helps determine the right plan type and metal tier.

3. Check your subsidy eligibility. Go to Healthcare.gov and enter your income information. You may qualify for more help than you think - especially with the enhanced subsidies available through 2025.

4. Compare plans on total cost, not just premium. Use the marketplace's comparison tool to estimate total annual costs including premiums, deductibles, copays, and prescription costs based on your expected usage.

5. Verify your doctors are in-network. Don't assume your current providers are covered on a new plan. Search the insurer's provider directory or call your doctor's office to confirm.

6. Enroll before the deadline. For coverage starting January 1, enroll by December 15. For coverage starting February 1, enroll by January 15. Don't wait until the last day - website crashes and technical issues are common near deadlines.

Special Enrollment Periods

If you miss Open Enrollment, you may still be able to enroll through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) triggered by qualifying life events. These include losing other health coverage (job loss, aging off a parent's plan), getting married or divorced, having or adopting a child, moving to a new state or county, and changes in income that affect subsidy eligibility. SEPs typically give you 60 days from the qualifying event to enroll. Document the event carefully - the marketplace may require proof.

Auto-Renewal: Why It's Risky

If you do nothing during Open Enrollment, the marketplace auto-renews your current plan (or a similar one if yours is discontinued). This seems convenient but is often costly. Your plan's premium may increase 5-15% while a competitor's plan stayed flat or decreased. Your plan's network may have changed, dropping doctors you use. Your subsidy amount changes annually based on the benchmark plan, and auto-renewal doesn't optimize for this. We strongly recommend actively shopping every year - even if you end up keeping the same plan, you'll know it's still the best option.