Open Enrollment hubUpdated every fall — next refresh September 2026

Open enrollment, explained once and updated forever

Everything the Nov 1 – Jan 15 window requires — dates, paperwork, subsidy checks and the honest answer to "what if I miss it" — maintained by the brokers who work it every year.

Matt Briegel · Founder & Licensed Broker · Reviewed July 22, 2026

The short answer

Marketplace open enrollment runs November 1 – January 15. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage. Miss the window and you need a qualifying life event — or a year-round private plan. Subsidies are recalculated annually, so even happy plan-keepers should re-check the math. We do that check free.

Three dates do all the work

Nov 1

The window opens

Shop, compare and enroll for next year — this is when new prices and plans publish.

The one to circle

Dec 15

Enroll for a Jan 1 start

Jan 15

Final day

Enrollments after Dec 15 start Feb 1. After tonight, the window closes for the year.

Have these five things ready

A household income estimate for next year (subsidies key off it)Birthdates and SSNs for everyone on the planYour current plan card, if you have oneThe doctors you want to keepYour prescription list, doses included

With these on the table, a full comparison takes about twenty minutes.

Missed the window?

Three honest routes remain. A qualifying life event — losing job coverage, marriage, a birth, a move — opens a 60-day special enrollment period. Some private plans can start any month, with trade-offs we'll spell out plainly. And if income has dropped, MO HealthNet or KanCare may be the right answer — Medicaid basics here.

Whichever applies, don't ride out a year uninsured on momentum. One call sorts out which door is actually open: (816) 205-4664.

Open enrollment FAQ

When is open enrollment?

November 1 through January 15 for marketplace (healthcare.gov) plans. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1; enroll after that and coverage starts February 1.

What happens if I do nothing?

Most marketplace plans auto-renew — but premiums, networks and drug lists change every year, and your subsidy is recalculated. The plan that fit last year can quietly stop fitting. A 15-minute annual review is the cheapest insurance there is.

Can I switch plans after January 15?

Only with a qualifying life event — losing other coverage, marriage, a baby, a move — which opens a 60-day special enrollment period. Otherwise, some private plans can start any month; we’ll tell you honestly if one fits your situation.

I have coverage at work. Does this apply to me?

Your employer sets its own enrollment window, usually in the fall. Open enrollment matters to you if you’re leaving that coverage, your spouse’s plan is pricey for family coverage, or you’re going independent — all worth a comparison.

What does help with enrollment cost?

Nothing. We’re paid by carriers, the price is identical to enrolling yourself on healthcare.gov, and you get the subsidy math, network checks and a human for the whole year included.

Open enrollment, explained once and updated forever

Three dates do all the work

Have these five things ready

Missed the window?

Open enrollment FAQ

Beat the December 15 rush.