The February 1 start date option will be eliminated in most states; all plans selected during this window will start January 1, 2027 . 🛠 Preparation Checklist
While the standard national window has closed, the following dates governed the 2026 enrollment cycle: Open Enrollment officially began. deadline to buy health insurance
The cutoff for coverage starting January 1, 2026 . The February 1 start date option will be
Available to low-income individuals and families year-round. Available to low-income individuals and families year-round
Pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns to estimate your projected annual income.
Losing a job-based plan, Medicaid, or COBRA.
A few states offered extra time, such as California , New York , and New Jersey , which extended deadlines into late January. Washington, D.C. had the latest deadline of February 4, 2026 . 💡 Can You Still Get Insurance?