When is ACA Open Enrollment?
On HealthCare.gov, which Florida uses, Open Enrollment runs November 1 through January 15 each year. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll December 16 through January 15 and coverage starts February 1. Outside those dates you need a qualifying life event or Medicaid/CHIP eligibility to enroll.
Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · Published August 17, 2026 · Mere Benefits Data Desk
These dates apply to the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which is where Floridians enroll because Florida does not run its own exchange. A handful of states with their own exchanges set different windows, so a friend in California or New York may have different deadlines than you do. And Open Enrollment is only for ACA marketplace plans; Medicare has its own separate calendar in the fall.
The dates that matter
| Deadline | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Open Enrollment begins for next year’s coverage |
| December 15 | Last day to enroll for coverage starting January 1 |
| December 16 to January 15 | You can still enroll, but coverage starts February 1 |
| January 15 | Open Enrollment ends |
| After January 15 | Enrollment requires a qualifying life event (60-day window) or year-round Medicaid/CHIP eligibility |
So for coverage in 2027, the window on HealthCare.gov opens November 1, 2026 and closes January 15, 2027, with December 15, 2026 as the cutoff for a January 1 start.
Why December 15 is the real deadline
If you enroll in the back half of the window, you start the year with a one-month gap unless you have other coverage. A February 1 start also means your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum have one less month to work for you. If you are switching plans rather than newly enrolling, the same logic applies: pick the new plan by December 15 so it takes over cleanly on January 1.
Auto-renewal is the other December 15 trap. If you do nothing, the marketplace generally re-enrolls you in the same or a similar plan. For 2026 that caught people off guard, because the enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025 and net premiums rose sharply for many enrollees. An auto-renewed plan can come with a very different bill in January. Prices, networks, and drug lists change every year, so a 20-minute review each November may save real money.
What to have ready before you apply
- A projected household income (MAGI) for the coverage year, since subsidies for 2026 and beyond phase out and end above 400% of the federal poverty level.
- Social Security numbers and immigration documents, if applicable, for everyone applying.
- Your current doctors and prescriptions, to check each plan’s network and formulary before you commit.
- Employer coverage details, if anyone in the household has an offer, because an affordable employer offer can block subsidy eligibility.
Here’s the mistake I see people make: treating the November 1 email as a formality and letting the same plan roll over year after year. The plan that fit you in 2024 may be the wrong answer at 2026 prices.
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