Open Enrollment is the time of year you can make changes to your existing coverage or purchase a new health insurance policy. This article provides additional details on the timing of Open Enrollment, shares resources available to you and provides guidance on enrollment options outside of this Open Enrollment period.
When is Open Enrollment?
The Federal Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026, for health insurance coverage beginning in 2026. Outside of the Federal Open Enrollment period, some states have provided their own dates for open enrollment.
In order for coverage to be effective on the 1st of the following month, you generally need to complete your enrollment by the 15th of the month prior.
See below for a list of each state’s marketplace and open enrollment dates:
| California: | Covered California | November 1 - January 31 |
| Colorado: | Connect for Health | November 1 - January 15 |
| Connecticut: | Access Health CT | November 1 - January 15 |
| Idaho: | Your Health Idaho | October 15 - December 15 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange | November 1 - January 15 |
| Maine | Cover Me | November 1 - January 15 |
| Maryland: | Maryland Health Connection | November 1 - January 15 |
| Massachusetts: | Massachusetts Health Connector | November 1 - January 23 |
| Minnesota: | MNsure | November 1 - January 15 |
| Nevada: | Nevada Health | November 1 - January 15 |
| New Jersey | Get Covered NJ | November 1 - January 31 |
| New Mexico | Be Well NM | November 1 - January 15 |
| New York: | NY State of Health | November 1 - January 31 |
| Pennsylvania: | PA State-based exchange | November 1 - January 15 |
| Rhode Island: | HealthSource RI | November 1 - January 31 |
| Vermont: | Vermont Health Connect | November 1 - January 15 |
| Virginia | Virginia's Insurance Marketplace | November 1 - January 15 |
| Washington: | Health Benefit Exchange | November 1 - January 15 |
| Washington, DC: | DC Health Link | November 1 - January 31 |
| All other states: | Healthcare.gov | November 1 - January 15 |
For more information, read our blog about open enrollment.
What if I miss open enrollment?
When open enrollment is over, you can only purchase a major medical policy if you have a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, moving, etc. Being offered this benefit for the first time also creates a qualifying life event.
Important: Please note that PeopleKeep operates independently on deadlines when you shop for insurance through your PeopleKeep dashboard. Be sure to stay aware of key dates and updates on the platform.