ACA Health Insurance includes plans that are considered comprehensive according to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are offered through health exchanges or marketplaces. You can access plans offered by major health insurance carriers that come in a variety of options to suit your personal medical needs and budget. These plans most closely resemble a medical plan offered by a company to their employees, but are available to anyone who does not have this traditional method of obtaining medical insurance.
Open Enrollment
The 2027 Open Enrollment Period (OE) runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, in most states. This annual window allows you to enroll in a new medical insurance plan or make changes to your current coverage. Be sure to review your options carefully and update your plan as needed during this time.
Click here to see a complete list of states and their specific open enrollment dates.
Do you need medical insurance?
Although no longer mandated by the ACA, everyone should have medical insurance. Medical insurance is just like any other type of insurance - you hope you don't need it but it's there to protect you from financial burden if you do. Medical insurance covers a range of expenses, from routine wellness visits, ongoing care for a chronic medical condition, or an unexpected event such as serious illness or accident. Many plans also have some level of coverage for prescription medications and other medical-related treatments like physical therapy.
I missed my state’s Open Enrollment deadline. Can I still get healthcare coverage?
If you missed the enrollment deadline in your state, it is still possible that you can qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that will allow you to apply for health insurance. You can qualify for an SEP if you have experienced a qualifying life event.
Qualifying life events can include:
Loss of health coverage
- Losing current health coverage, which may include job-based, individual, and student plans
- Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
- Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent's plan
Changes in household
- Getting married or divorced
- Having a baby or adopting a child
- Experiencing a death in the family
Changes in residence
- Moving to a different ZIP code or county
- A student moving to or from their educational institution
- A seasonal worker relocating to or from their home and workplace
- Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing
Other qualifying events
- Changes in income that affect your eligibility for coverage
- Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or becoming a shareholder in an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Being released from incarceration (jail or prison)
- AmeriCorps members starting or ending their service
