First, check whether you actually missed it
A surprising number of people who think the door is shut still have one open. Any of these in the last 60 days opens a Special Enrollment Period:
- Lost job-based coverage, or your COBRA ran out on its own
- Turned 26 and came off a parent's plan
- Lost Medicaid or CHIP eligibility — this one carries a longer 90-day window
- Married, had a baby, adopted, or fostered a child
- Divorced or separated in a way that ended your coverage
- Moved to a different county or ZIP code, if you had coverage in the prior 60 days
- Lost eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP
- Gained access to an individual coverage HRA through work
- Were released from incarceration, or gained lawful presence or citizenship
What stays open all year
Medicaid and CHIP
No enrollment window at all. Apply on any day of the year, and eligibility is based on your current monthly income rather than an annual figure — so a recent drop in income can qualify you immediately. If money is tight, check this before anything else. There is no premium.
Coverage through a job
Starting a new job triggers its own enrollment opportunity, independent of the marketplace calendar. So does a qualifying event on a spouse's plan — within 30 days.
Other products, with real caveats
Some non-marketplace products can be purchased outside Open Enrollment. They are not comprehensive coverage: they are typically medically underwritten, may exclude pre-existing conditions, and are not minimum essential coverage. Availability varies enormously by state and several states prohibit them entirely. They can make sense for a genuinely short, specific gap — for instance while waiting out a new employer's waiting period — and they are a poor substitute for comprehensive coverage in any other situation. Anyone presenting one as equivalent to a marketplace plan is misleading you.
When the next Open Enrollment runs
For coverage beginning in 2027, the federal marketplace Open Enrollment period runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1; enroll after that and coverage generally begins February 1.
Several state-run marketplaces differ — Idaho opens earlier and closes December 15; California, New York, New Jersey and others run to the end of January. Confirm your state's dates before relying on them.
Common questions
I missed Open Enrollment. Can I still get insurance?
Often yes. Check first whether anything in the last 60 days counts as a qualifying event — job loss, turning 26, a move, marriage, a birth, losing Medicaid, or an income change. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round regardless.
What qualifies me for a Special Enrollment Period?
Losing other coverage, household changes such as marriage or a birth, moving to a new county, changes in eligibility for savings, and several others including release from incarceration and gaining lawful presence. Losing Medicaid or CHIP carries a longer 90-day window rather than 60 days.
Can I get Medicaid outside Open Enrollment?
Yes. Medicaid and CHIP have no enrollment window at all and are assessed on current monthly income, so a recent drop can qualify you right away. Coverage can begin quickly and there is no premium.
How long is a Special Enrollment Period?
60 days from the qualifying event for a marketplace plan, 30 days to join a spouse's or parent's employer plan, and 90 days if you lost Medicaid or CHIP.
What if I have no qualifying event at all?
You would generally wait for the next Open Enrollment. Some non-marketplace products are available year-round, but they are not comprehensive coverage and several states prohibit them, so whether that is a sensible bridge depends heavily on where you live and how long the gap is.
Is short-term insurance a good substitute?
It is not a substitute for comprehensive coverage. These plans are typically medically underwritten, can exclude pre-existing conditions, and are not minimum essential coverage. They can be reasonable for a short, specific gap such as a new employer's waiting period. Availability varies by state and several states do not permit them.
Can I get coverage backdated?
Generally no, with two exceptions: a birth or adoption can be backdated to the date of the event, and coverage can be corrected retroactively where a marketplace or plan error caused you to miss enrolling.
Can someone near me help me find a Special Enrollment Period?
Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances rather than your location, and plans are priced by county, so a licensed agent can check both from anywhere. Calling (866) 821-1808 connects you with one.
Talk it through with a licensed agent
Which option is right depends on your state, your income and which doctors you need to keep. A licensed agent can walk through it with you in about eight minutes.
Free to call, no obligation, and we never ask you for payment. CobraScout is paid by the agency that answers, not by you. TTY 711.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods and qualifying life events
- HealthCare.gov, Coverage outside Open Enrollment
- CMS, Special Enrollment Periods Fact Sheet
- Medicaid.gov, Eligibility