Open enrollment is the one time each year when anyone can sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace — no qualifying life event required. If you missed the 2026 window, you are not out of options. Here is what happened, what changed, and what to do next.
For states that use the federal HealthCare.gov platform — including every state where Trek Insurance Solutions is licensed — the 2026 Open Enrollment Period ran from November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026.
If you enrolled by December 15, 2025, your coverage began January 1, 2026. If you enrolled between December 16, 2025 and January 15, 2026, your coverage began February 1, 2026.
Several state-based exchanges offered longer windows. California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC extended open enrollment through January 31, 2026. Massachusetts closed on January 23, 2026. All states where Trek operates followed the federal HealthCare.gov timeline.
The biggest change for 2026 was the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits. These subsidies — introduced by the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act — capped premium costs at 8.5% of household income for everyone, including people earning above 400% of the federal poverty level. Congress did not extend them before the end of 2025. People earning above 400% of the poverty level lost access to premium subsidies entirely. People earning below 400% still qualify for the original ACA tax credits, but the subsidy amounts are smaller. Average premium increases attributable to the subsidy expiration ranged from 1% to 7%, on top of normal annual rate changes. CMS reports that approximately 23 million consumers still selected Marketplace plans for 2026, but researchers estimated that up to 7.3 million people could lose coverage due to higher costs.
Missing the January 15 deadline does not necessarily mean going uninsured. You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you experience a qualifying life event, such as losing other health coverage, getting married or divorced, having a baby, moving to a new state, turning 26, or becoming a U.S. citizen. Outside of a qualifying life event, short-term health plans, COBRA continuation coverage, and Medicaid may be worth exploring.
Looking ahead, the 2027 Open Enrollment Period is expected to start on November 1, 2026 — but the end date is changing. Under current federal rules, HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 coverage will end on December 15, 2026 in most states. That is a full month shorter than the 2026 window. When open enrollment returns this fall, do not wait until the last minute.
Trek Insurance Solutions is a licensed, independent insurance agency serving 19 states: Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. We do not work for any one insurance company. We shop the Marketplace on your behalf, compare plans side by side, and help you find coverage that fits your health needs and your budget.
Ready to talk? Call us at 888-960-0442 or visit trekis.net to get started.