2026 Open Enrollment

Almost exactly a year ago I began my 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Period guide with the following words:

This is the best OEP ever for the ACA for several reasons:

  • The expanded/enhanced premium subsidies first introduced in 2021 via the American Rescue Plan, which make premiums more affordable for those who already qualified while expanding eligibility to millions who weren't previously eligible, are continuing through the end of 2025 via the Inflation Reduction Act;
  • A dozen states are either launching, continuing or expanding their own state-based subsidy programs to make ACA plans even more affordable for their enrollees;
  • 100,000 or more DACA recipients are finally eligible to enroll in ACA exchange plans & receive financial assistance!

What a difference a year can make.

via Covered California:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is kicking off its open-enrollment period for 2026 coverage on Nov. 1 amid uncertainty surrounding the enhanced premium tax credits that have delivered greater affordability and record enrollment across the nation.

This marks the 13th open-enrollment period under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which since its inception has helped tens of millions of Americans access health insurance, including a record nearly 2 million Californians heading into 2026. Today, more than 24 million Americans are insured through a marketplace plan.

via Access Health CT:

HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 30, 2025) — Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, today announced it will hold several enrollment fairs in November to help Connecticut residents shop, compare and enroll in health or dental coverage. They can also renew their coverage. Enrollment fairs are one-day events for customers to get in-person help from experts. The fairs will take place in Danbury, Manchester, Norwalk, Norwich, New London, Stratford and Willimantic. All help is free. 

Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1, 2025 and ends Jan. 15, 2026.

When you enroll affects when your coverage starts. If customers enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2025, coverage will start Jan. 1, 2026. If they enroll between Dec. 16, 2025 and Jan. 15, 2026, coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2026. 

via Connect for Health Colorado:

Denver, Colo.– Health insurance premiums will increase for many people who buy health insurance through Colorado’s official marketplace and fewer customers in 2026 will qualify for financial help to offset those costs, according to a new analysis from Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Most of the cost increase is the result of Congress allowing federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) to expire.

Connect for Health Colorado’s analysis is based on the Colorado Division of Insurance’s announcement of final health insurance premium rates for plan year 2026, and reflects the expiration of ePTCs and the benefit of the introduction of Colorado Premium Assistance, which will reduce premiums for some customers.

On Monday I noted that around 20 state-based ACA exchange websites had launched 2026 Open Enrollment "window shopping," which allows residents to plug in their household information (zip code, ages, income, etc) and browse the various health insurance policies they have to choose from for coverage starting January 1st...as well as whatever federal (and state, in some cases) tax credits they'll be eligible for.

This morning, the number of states with live window shopping (including DC) grew to 49, as HealthCare.Gov, which hosts ACA enrollment for 30 states, went live. (This leaves 2 states left to bring their window shopping tools online: Colorado and Pennsylvania, both of which should do so by Saturday at the latest).

Welp. From the Colorado Dept. of Regulatory Agencies:

 Congressional failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits will lead to an estimated 225,000 Coloradans seeing an average 101% increase in health insurance premiums

DENVER - The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), today released the final approved premium information on private health insurance plans for 2026 for the individual market (for people who don’t get coverage from an employer plan). These filings have been reviewed and updated to reflect the passage of HB25B-1006, which blunted some of the premium increases.

Note: I already published what should be the final gross rate change filings for Colorado last week: +21.2%

I've already noted that 17 states have launched window shopping for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period (OEP), allowing residents of the following states to plug their household information into their states ACA exchange website to see just how much their net health insurance premiums are going to increase starting January 1st, 2026:

I've already noted that 14 states have launched window shopping for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period (OEP), allowing residents of the following states to plug their household information into their states ACA exchange website to see just how much their net health insurance premiums are going to increase starting January 1st, 2026:

Washington HealthPlan Finder

Last week I noted that thirteen states have launched window shopping for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period (OEP), allowing residents of the following states to plug their household information into their states ACA exchange website to see just how much their net health insurance premiums are going to increase starting January 1st, 2026:

Every year, even when the ACA is running smoothly, there are always changes in market participation, as different insurance carriers enter or exit the individual market in certain states or either expand or shrink what parts of the state they offer healthcare policies in.

2026 is no exception, and given the massive turmoil the ACA exchanges are undergoing right now (due primarily to the expiring federal tax credits as well as regulatory changes made by the Trump Regime's so-called "Integrity & Affordability Rule"), there's either 13 or 32 insurance carriers throwing in the towel in one or more states, depending on how you count a carrier operating in multiple states or under multiple subsidiary brandings.

It's important to keep in mind that the following list probably isn't comprehensive--it includes the carriers which I've confirmed are pulling out statewide (with one exception: Meridian Health Plan of Michigan is only pulling out of parts of the state). There's likely one or two that I've missed, especially given that several of these have only made their final decisions within the past week or so.

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