Here's What You Need to Know
If you have a health plan through the Marketplace (also known as the ACA exchange), you may have heard that the 2026 open enrollment dates for 2027 plans were changing. That change has now changed again. Here are the latest updates on when open enrollment will occur for Marketplace health plans.
What Almost Changed
In 2025, a federal rule set out to shorten open enrollment for 2027 coverage. States that use HealthCare.gov would have seen the window end December 15, 2026 instead of January 15, 2027, and the option to start coverage February 1 would have gone away.
That rule didn't take effect. A federal judge blocked it in June 2026, and it appears that it will no longer impact open enrollment this year.
What This Means for Most People Right Now
In early August 2026, CMS confirmed that open enrollment on HealthCare.gov will run November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, the same schedule used in recent years. That covers the majority of states.
A few important notes:
- December 15, 2026 is still a key deadline for most. If you want coverage starting January 1, 2027, enroll by then.
- If you enroll later than December, coverage would start February 1, 2027
State-by-State: Some Windows Look Different
Most states follow the federal schedule above (November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027). But 21 states plus Washington, D.C. run their own exchanges, and some of them have set different dates. This information continues to shift, so double-check with us for information about your specific state.
In all states except three, open enrollment will begin on November 1, 2026. These are the exceptions:
- Idaho
begins October 15
- Connecticut
and Massachusetts begins October 23
Here are the states ending open enrollment on a date other than January 15:
- California:
January 31
- Connecticut:
December 23
- District of Columbia:
January 31
- Idaho:
December 15
- Massachusetts: December 23
- Minnesota:
December 31
- New Jersey: January 31
- New York:
January 31
- Rhode Island:
December 31
- Virginia:
January 29
If your state isn't listed above, you're likely on the federal HealthCare.gov schedule: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
Why This Keeps Changing
A quick recap, since the back-and-forth has been confusing:
- A 2025 federal rule proposed shortening open enrollment starting with 2027 coverage.
- Some states adjusted their own deadlines in anticipation of that rule.
- A federal court vacated the rule in June 2026.
- Several of those states reversed course and went back to longer windows.
- CMS confirmed in August 2026 that HealthCare.gov states will use the traditional November 1 to January 15 schedule.
What You Can Do Now
- Don't assume last year's deadline, or the shortened deadline you may have heard about earlier this year, still applies. Keep checking with us or on your state's marketplace to get the latest dates.
- Mark
November 1, 2026 as the date to start looking at your options.
- If you want January 1 coverage, aim to enroll by
December 15, 2026, regardless of your state.
- If you're not sure which schedule applies to you, we can help you confirm your exact dates.
If you have questions about your coverage or want help sorting out what applies to you, we are here to help!
This information reflects the most recent guidance available as of August 2026.
