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ACA Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Deadlines, and What You Need to Know

· Updated · 4 min read

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is the annual period when you can enroll in a new health insurance plan, switch plans, or make changes to your existing coverage through the ACA marketplace. Outside of this window, you can only make changes if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

2026 Open Enrollment Dates

For the 2026 plan year, Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026. If you want coverage to start on January 1, you'll need to enroll by December 15.

Key Deadlines

  • November 1: Open Enrollment begins
  • December 15: Deadline for January 1 coverage
  • January 15: Final deadline for 2026 coverage

What You'll Need to Enroll

Before you start the enrollment process, gather these documents:

  • Social Security numbers for everyone in your household
  • Employer and income information (pay stubs, W-2 forms)
  • Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans
  • Immigration documents (if applicable)

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Ready to enroll? Get started in minutes.

Our licensed agents will help you find the best plan and complete your enrollment — all at no cost to you.

Start My Enrollment

Special Enrollment Periods

Missed Open Enrollment? You may still qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you've experienced a qualifying life event such as getting married, having a baby, losing other health coverage, or moving to a new area.

How to Get Help

Navigating health insurance options can be confusing. Licensed insurance agents can help you compare plans, check subsidy eligibility, and complete your enrollment at no extra cost to you.

M

Michael Johnson

Senior Health Insurance Advisor

Continue Reading Our Series On Health Insurance Basics


This blog post is part of our series on Health Insurance Basics. If you would like to learn more about this topic and want to continue reading our series - check out the links below.

  1. How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan in 2026
  2. Health Insurance Deductibles Explained: What They Are and How They Work
  3. HMO vs. PPO: Which Health Insurance Plan Type is Right for You?
  4. ACA Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Deadlines, and What You Need to Know

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