How to Get Health Insurance After Open Enrollment Ends
The best way to get health insurance outside of open enrollment (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15) is by qualifying for a special enrollment period.
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You can usually buy health insurance through your state health marketplace if you recently lost coverage. Short-term health insurance and COBRA can also offer immediate coverage in some cases.
You can sign up for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, year-round if you earn less than about $22,000 per year (roughly $44,000 per year for a family of four).
How to get health insurance after open enrollment
You may be eligible for a special enrollment period if you missed open enrollment (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15).
During a special enrollment period, you can buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace health insurance or employer coverage at any time during the year. If you've recently lost your coverage, you'll almost always qualify for a special enrollment period.
Typically, you'll have 60 days from the date your last health insurance policy ended to sign up for a new plan. If you miss this special enrollment window, you'll have to wait until the next open enrollment period to get regular health insurance.
What qualifies you for a special enrollment period (SEP)?
- Changes to your household such as getting married, having or adopting a baby, getting divorced or legally separated, or if someone on your health insurance plan dies.
- Changes to where you live such as moving to a new ZIP code or county or moving to the U.S. from a foreign country.
- Loss of health insurance in the past 60 days or if you or a member of your household expects to lose coverage in the next 60 days.
- Your employer offered to help you pay for health insurance with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) in the last 60 days or you expect to get this help in the next 60 days.
- You've recently been affected by a national disaster such as an earthquake, flood or hurricane.
- You gained membership in a federally recognized tribe or gained status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporation shareholder. Starting or ending service in Americorps, VISTA or the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
- Becoming a U.S. citizen.
- Leaving jail or prison.
You may also qualify for a special enrollment period if you make less than about $23,000 per year (roughly $48,000 per year for a family of four). This will go away with the start of the 2026 plan year.
Other types of immediate health insurance
If you don't qualify for a special enrollment period, the best way to get instant health insurance is usually through a short-term plan.
With short-term health insurance, your plan can start as soon as the day after you sign up. Keep in mind, these policies typically offer worse coverage than marketplace plans. But a short-term plan is usually your best option if you need immediate health insurance.
If you earn a low income, you may be eligible for free health insurance from the government, called Medicaid. Medicaid offers strong coverage, and you can get it at any time of the year. But getting approved can take months in some cases.
With COBRA, you can keep your workplace coverage after you leave your job. But this is rarely the best choice because marketplace health insurance usually costs less than COBRA.
Short-term health plans
Short-term plans are a good option if you need temporary insurance. These plans are typically cheap and you can get coverage fast — in some cases, as soon as the next day. But these plans have limited coverage compared to the health insurance you'd get through the marketplace or your employer.
For example, short-term health plans don't have to cover health conditions you already have. Plus, many short-term policies have annual or lifetime limits on how much they'll pay out.
Companies can charge you higher rates or deny coverage based on your health history. If you're older or in poor health, a short-term health plan often doesn't make sense.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a type of free government health insurance for people who make a low income.
You can get Medicaid in most states if you earn less than $22,000 per year (roughly $44,000 per year for a family of four). In 10 states, Medicaid eligibility depends on your income and whether you meet another standard, such as being pregnant, disabled or age 65 or older.
You can get Medicaid at any time during the year. That means you don't need to wait until open enrollment to sign up. But you may have to wait over a month for coverage to start.
Although states legally have to approve or deny coverage within 45 days (90 for those who qualify because of a disability), some applicants report longer wait times. Once approved, coverage should start immediately. In some cases, Medicaid may pay for medical services you got within the past three months if you would've been eligible for coverage at the time of service.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes new rules that make getting Medicaid more difficult. Medicaid enrollees will have to prove they've spent 80 hours in the past month working, volunteering or training for a new job. This rule doesn't apply to pregnant women, people with disabilities and parents with children aged 14 and younger.
States have to adopt this new rule by the end of 2026. Depending on where you live, you may have to meet this requirement earlier.
COBRA health insurance
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) lets you keep your health insurance after losing your job. You can avoid a coverage gap by signing up for COBRA within two months of leaving your job.
COBRA is typically a poor choice for health insurance because of its high cost.
If you choose COBRA, you'll have to pay the full cost of your monthly rate. In contrast, leaving your job makes you eligible for a special enrollment period that lets you buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace health insurance.
ACA plans offer the same level of coverage as employer health insurance. Plus, these plans typically cost less than COBRA.
But COBRA might make sense if you've already met your deductible for your workplace plan. COBRA can also be a good choice if you want to continue seeing your current doctors.
When is open enrollment for health insurance?
In states that use HealthCare.gov, open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.
But if you live in a state that runs its own health exchange, your open enrollment dates may differ. For example, Idaho's open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15.
Open enrollment dates by state
State | Open enrollment period |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Nov. 1-Jan. 15 |
| Alaska | Nov. 1-Jan. 15 |
| Arizona | Nov. 1-Jan. 15 |
| Arkansas | Nov. 1-Jan. 16 |
| California | Nov. 1-Jan. 31 |
2025 dates came from HealthCare.gov and state health marketplaces.
During open enrollment, you can buy new coverage or switch health plans. You need to buy a plan before Dec. 15 if you want your coverage to start on Jan. 1.
If you buy health insurance between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, your coverage will start on Feb. 1.
Starting in 2026, open enrollment for marketplace health insurance plans will end on Dec. 15 in all marketplaces. That includes HealthCare.gov and state-run health exchanges.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get health insurance after open enrollment ends?
If you missed open enrollment, the best way to get health insurance is by seeing if you qualify for a special enrollment period. If you recently lost your health insurance, you're probably eligible to get a plan through your state health exchange.
Can I buy health insurance and use it immediately?
Typically, you can't get same-day health insurance. If you buy an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan during a special enrollment period, your coverage will typically start on the first day of the next month.
Some short-term health insurance plans can start as soon as the day after you buy them. But these plans typically offer worse coverage than regular health insurance.
What happens if I do nothing during open enrollment?
If you miss open enrollment, you won't be able to buy or change your health insurance unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. To avoid a coverage gap, consider buying a short-term health plan or enrolling in free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you earn a low income.
Methodology
Rules, dates and other information regarding open enrollment and the availability of special enrollment periods came from HealthCare.gov and state-run health exchanges.
Other sources include KFF, Medicaid.gov and Congress.gov.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
