Missed Open Enrollment? What You Can Still Do

On this page

• Qualifying life events that open a special enrollment period
• Medicaid and CHIP: no open enrollment at all
• The low-income monthly special enrollment period is gone
• Job-based coverage
• Short-term plans, with the caveats that matter
• What to do right now
• Frequently asked questions

Qualifying life events that open a special enrollment period

Most special enrollment periods give you 60 days from the event to pick a plan, and some let you enroll up to 60 days before an expected loss of coverage. Common qualifying events include:

• Losing other health coverage, such as after a job loss, aging off a parent’s plan at 26, COBRA running out, or losing Medicaid or CHIP
• Getting married
• Having a baby, adopting a child, or gaining a foster child
• Permanently moving somewhere with different Marketplace plan options
• Gaining citizenship or lawful presence
• Leaving incarceration
• A change in income or household size that newly qualifies you for a premium tax credit
• Your current plan being discontinued
• A Marketplace, agent or enrollment error that kept you from signing up

A separate set of “exceptional circumstances” events covers things like a serious medical condition that prevented you from enrolling, a FEMA-declared natural disaster, domestic abuse or spousal abandonment, and a technical error on HealthCare.gov. Each needs its own documentation. Call the Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 to use one. See qualifying life events for health insurance for more detail on documentation and deadlines.

Medicaid and CHIP: no open enrollment at all

Unlike Marketplace plans, Medicaid and CHIP have no annual enrollment window. You can apply any month of the year, and if your income and household qualify, coverage isn’t limited by a deadline. This matters if your income drops partway through the year. It’s worth checking Medicaid eligibility even if you already looked and didn’t qualify before. See health insurance for low-income families.

The low-income monthly special enrollment period is gone

For a few years, anyone with income from 100% to 150% of the poverty level could enroll in a Marketplace plan in any month, without waiting for open enrollment or a qualifying event. That option ended after plan year 2026 and isn’t available for 2027. A few states run their own year-round options for lower incomes, including Basic Health Programs in DC, Oregon and Minnesota that cover people up to 200% of the poverty level, and state programs in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Where you live determines whether anything like this is still available to you.

Job-based coverage

If your employer offers health insurance, federal law gives you at least 30 days after a qualifying event, such as losing other coverage, getting married, or having or adopting a child, to enroll, and coverage for a new baby or adopted child is retroactive to the date of birth or placement. If you’re between jobs, COBRA can extend your old employer’s plan, usually for 18 months (up to 36 for some situations), though you pay the full premium yourself plus up to 2% more. See COBRA health insurance and health insurance for the unemployed for the tradeoffs.

Short-term plans, with the caveats that matter

Short-term, limited-duration plans can bridge a gap in coverage, and federal regulators aren’t currently enforcing the 4-month cap on how long they can run while they reconsider the rule. But these plans can turn you down or exclude coverage for a pre-existing condition, don’t have to cover the ACA’s essential health benefits, and don’t come with a premium tax credit. Fourteen states plus DC ban or effectively ban them: California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Read the policy closely before you buy one. See short-term health insurance options.

What to do right now

Start by figuring out if you have a qualifying event and how long ago it happened, since most windows are 60 days from the event itself. If you don’t have one, check whether you or anyone in your household qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, since that has no deadline. If you’re waiting for open enrollment, mark the dates: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, with a December 15 deadline for coverage starting January 1. Some state-run exchanges, including California, New Jersey, New York and DC, run through January 31. See when open enrollment starts for your state’s exact dates.

See what plans and prices are available once you know your options: compare quotes by ZIP code.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a qualifying life event?

Losing other coverage, marriage, having a baby, adopting a child, and permanently moving to an area with different plan options are the most common. Most give you 60 days to enroll.

Can I get Medicaid outside of open enrollment?

Yes. Medicaid and CHIP have no open enrollment period at all. You can apply any month, any time your household income qualifies.

Is the low-income special enrollment period still available?

No, not for 2027. It ended after plan year 2026. A handful of states run their own year-round programs for lower incomes, but availability depends on where you live.

Are short-term health plans a good backup option?

They can cover a short gap, but they can deny you for a pre-existing condition, skip essential health benefits, and aren’t sold in several states. Check the specific policy before relying on one.

This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Special enrollment rules and deadlines can vary by state and by the specific event. Last reviewed September 2026.