The Annual Open Enrollment Period
Every year, the federal government sets a window of time when anyone can sign up for an ACA Marketplace health insurance plan — no questions asked, no medical screening required. For 2026 coverage, the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs from November 1 through January 15 in Florida. If you enroll by December 15, your coverage starts January 1. Enroll between December 16 and January 15, and your coverage begins February 1.
This annual window is the primary opportunity most Floridians have to pick a new plan, switch carriers, change coverage levels, or enroll for the first time. Once the window closes, you generally cannot get a Marketplace plan until the following year — unless a qualifying life event gives you a Special Enrollment Period.
What Is a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)?
A Special Enrollment Period is a 60-day window that opens when certain life events happen. During a SEP, you can enroll in or change a Marketplace plan even outside the annual enrollment window. The clock starts on the date of the qualifying event — in most cases, you have 60 days from that date to enroll.
Qualifying Life Events That Trigger a SEP
- Loss of qualifying health coverage — Losing job-based coverage, losing Medicaid or CHIP eligibility, aging off a parent's plan at 26, or losing coverage for any reason other than non-payment of premiums
- Household changes — Getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, or placing a child for foster care
- Moving to a new coverage area — Relocating to a new zip code or county that has different plan options, moving to the US from abroad, or returning from certain overseas situations
- Change in income or household size — A significant income change that affects your subsidy eligibility may allow you to update your plan
- Gaining citizenship or lawful presence
- Release from incarceration
- Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe
- Navigator or enrollment assistance error — If you were enrolled incorrectly due to an agent or marketplace error, you may qualify
Important: When you have a SEP triggered by losing other coverage, you typically need to enroll within 60 days of losing that coverage. Waiting until you actually lose coverage — rather than acting before — is a common and costly mistake.
What Happens If You Miss Open Enrollment?
If the annual window closes and you don't have a qualifying life event, your options narrow considerably. Here is what Florida residents can do:
1. Short-Term Health Plans
Short-term health insurance plans are available in Florida and can be purchased at any time of year. They're less expensive than ACA plans, but they come with significant limitations: pre-existing conditions are typically excluded, benefits are capped, mental health coverage is often absent, and the plans do not meet ACA minimum essential coverage standards. They are best thought of as a gap-filler — not a replacement for real coverage.
2. Medicaid
Medicaid has no enrollment window. If you qualify based on income and household size, you can apply and enroll year-round. In Florida, Medicaid eligibility for non-elderly adults is limited compared to states that expanded Medicaid, but children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities have broader access. It's worth checking your eligibility at any point in the year.
3. COBRA Continuation Coverage
If you recently lost employer-sponsored coverage, COBRA allows you to continue that same plan for up to 18 months (or longer in some cases). The catch: you pay the full premium, including the share your employer was previously covering, plus a 2% administrative fee. This can be expensive, but it preserves continuity of coverage and access to the same provider network.
4. Catastrophic Plans (for those under 30)
Floridians under 30 — and some people with hardship exemptions — may qualify for a catastrophic health plan. These plans have very low premiums but extremely high deductibles. They're designed to protect you from worst-case scenarios only.
Don't Wait Until You Need Care
One of the most common patterns we see is people putting off enrollment because they feel healthy and the premium feels like wasted money. Then something happens — an accident, a diagnosis, an ER visit — and suddenly they're uninsured with a large bill. In Florida, an average emergency room visit costs $1,300 to $2,800 out of pocket without insurance. A single hospitalization can easily reach $15,000 to $30,000 or more.
The time to compare plans is before you need them. If you're currently uninsured, check whether you qualify for a premium tax credit — most Florida families earning between $20,000 and $60,000 do, and many can get coverage for under $50 per month after the credit. Use our ACA Subsidy Calculator to estimate what you might qualify for.
2026 Open Enrollment Dates: November 1 – January 15. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage. Missing this window means waiting another full year unless you have a qualifying life event.
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