What to do if you missed open enrollment

Check whether you have really missed it

Many people worry about this deadline, so start by checking the date. HealthCare.gov says open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. You have not missed it when your state uses HealthCare.gov and today is January 15 or earlier.

Some states run their own sign-up site and set their own dates. Some of them give you until January 31. A couple of states close earlier, such as Idaho on December 15 and Vermont on December 28. Our guide to open enrollment dates has a state table. Federal rules about these dates have changed more than once, so check before you apply.

Life events that open a special enrollment period

Even after open enrollment closes, you may still have a way in. A special enrollment period is a short window when you can sign up for a plan outside the yearly deadline. HealthCare.gov says you can only enroll outside open enrollment if you qualify for one.

HealthCare.gov lists several life changes that can open this window. You may qualify for a special enrollment period in cases like these.

• You lose your health coverage, for example when a job ends.
• A move to a new area can also qualify you.
• Getting married can also open a special enrollment period.
• Having a baby or adopting a child may qualify you as well.

The list has other changes too, so check the HealthCare.gov page if your situation is different. You usually have 60 days before or after the event to pick a plan. The window is longer, at 90 days, for people who lost Medicaid or CHIP. CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers many children in families with low incomes.

Proof of the event, such as a letter that shows your old coverage ended, may be requested. After you pick a plan, HealthCare.gov says you have 30 days to send these papers. Please keep all of your paperwork in one safe place. After a job loss, our guide on losing job-based insurance walks through the first week.

If you think you qualify, apply on HealthCare.gov or your state's site as soon as you can. The form asks about your life change, and you pick a plan once you are found eligible. You can also call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 for help with the steps.

According to HealthCare.gov, dropping COBRA by choice does not open a window, and neither does choosing to stop paying your COBRA premiums. COBRA is a federal law that lets you keep your old job plan for a time after you leave, usually at full price.

One older rule for people with low incomes has also ended. Until August 25, 2025, people with income at or below 150 percent of the poverty line could sign up in any month. CMS, the federal agency that runs HealthCare.gov, says that monthly window is now closed.

Medicaid and CHIP are open all year

Medicaid and CHIP do not have an enrollment deadline. HealthCare.gov says applications are accepted any time of year. Medicaid is a government health program for people with low incomes.

Your state and your income both affect whether you qualify, and so does your household. Your income may have dropped since last year, so apply even if you were turned down before. You can find each step in our guide on how to apply for Medicaid.

If you do nothing during open enrollment

If you already have a Marketplace plan and do nothing, you may be re-enrolled automatically. Our open enrollment guide explains how that works and when it does not happen.

With no plan at all, you will not get one by doing nothing. You would need a special enrollment period or Medicaid to get covered before the next open enrollment.

Your price and your tax credit can change each year, so check your new price before the deadline. When the cost feels too high, our guide on what to do when you cannot afford health insurance can help.

Short-term plans and other options to be careful with

After the deadline, you may see ads for short-term health plans. These plans are not sold on HealthCare.gov or your state's sign-up site. They can turn you down or leave out care, so read the fine print.

Before you pay for anything, make sure you know what the plan covers and what it does not. Free local help is also available to you. HealthCare.gov says people and groups in your community offer free help with the application and with picking a plan.

How to get care until coverage starts

Waiting for coverage does not mean you cannot see a doctor. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale, which means your price depends on your income. They serve people no matter whether they can pay. You can learn how to find one in our guide to community health centers.

Direct primary care is another choice for many people. It is a monthly membership with a family doctor, usually $50 to $200 a month. It is not insurance, and it does not pay for the hospital, the emergency room or surgery. The directory of cash-pay doctors on our site lets you search for one near you.

Do not stop or change a medicine unless your own doctor tells you to. Ask the pharmacist what the cash price is, since it can be lower than you expect.

If you think you are having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Federal law says emergency rooms must screen and stabilize anyone, with or without insurance.

This guide is general information and not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about your own health.