Open enrollment for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. If you are reading this before January 15, you have not missed it: pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1, or by January 15 for February 1.
If the window has already closed, you still have options. Here they are, starting with the one most people do not know about.
1. Look at private plans you can buy any time
Some private plans can be applied for any time of year, such as medically underwritten plans and short-term plans. They can be a good fit for some people, especially if you are healthy and need coverage now. Private plans are what I specialize in, and when the marketplace is closed they are often the quickest way to get covered. The trade-offs are real, though:
- No marketplace subsidies
- Approval and price can depend on your health history
- Pre-existing conditions may be excluded or limited
- They are not ACA marketplace plans, and some have time limits
I will tell you honestly whether one makes sense for you, or whether one of the options below is a better fit.
2. See if you have a qualifying life event
Certain life changes open a special enrollment period, usually 60 days from the date of the event. Common ones include:
- Losing other health coverage, such as leaving a job, turning 26 and coming off a parent’s plan, or COBRA running out
- Moving permanently to an area with different plans
- Getting married, having a baby or adopting
- Gaining U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status
- Employer coverage becoming unaffordable, or being offered an ICHRA or QSEHRA by an employer
If you lose AHCCCS coverage, you usually get 90 days instead of 60. For a loss of coverage you will normally need to show proof, such as a letter from the old plan or employer. Choosing to drop a plan, or losing it for not paying the premium, usually does not count.
If you know coverage is ending, you can often apply up to 60 days before it ends, so there is no gap.
3. Check AHCCCS, which is open all year
AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program, does not have an enrollment period. If your household income is around 138% of the poverty level or below (about $22,025 a year for one person or $45,540 for a family of four), you can apply any time at healthearizonaplus.gov. Children may qualify for KidsCare at higher household incomes.
4. Look at coverage through work
A new job usually has its own enrollment window when you are hired. If you get married, you can typically join a spouse’s employer plan within 30 days, even outside their company’s normal enrollment period.
5. Do not get caught next year
Put November 1 on your calendar. That is when open enrollment for the following year usually starts, and enrolling early gives you time to check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
Want to know what you would actually pay? I will check your numbers for free, with no obligation. Call me at 480-997-1810 or request a free quote.
Figures and dates are for 2027 coverage as of November 2026 and can change. MF Health Advisors is an independent, licensed insurance agency, not HealthCare.gov or a government agency. This is general information, not tax advice.
