Compare 2025 health insurance plans in Ohio
Key takeaways
- Most US states (but not all) follow the standard healthcare insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP) — often called Obamacare Open Enrollment or Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment — which is November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026 for the upcoming enrollment period.
- If you live in one of the states that follow the national OEP schedule and sign up by December 15, your coverage starts January 1, 2026. If you sign up between December 16 and January 15, your coverage starts February 1, 2026.
- Some states give you more time. A few states extend Open Enrollment into late January. These include California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.
- In these states, coverage starts January 1 if you enroll by December 15. If you enroll any time in January (even later in the month), coverage begins February 1.
- Idaho starts and ends Open Enrollment earlier this year. The state of Idaho opens their 2026 Open Enrollment Period early on October 15 and closes it on December 15, 2025, making it the only state that starts before November and ends before January.
- Coverage in Idaho starts January 1 for all plans, (and there’s no February start option).
What is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment is the yearly period when you can sign up for health insurance, switch plans, or make changes to your current coverage. If you miss this window, you usually have to wait until the next year to enroll — unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) because of a major life event, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other coverage.
For 2026 plans, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026, in most states. Missing it can leave you without coverage or stuck in a plan that no longer fits your needs.
This period is often called:
• Obamacare Open Enrollment
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment
• Healthcare Marketplace Enrollment
They all refer to the same thing — the time each year when you can shop for ACA-compliant plans (often with help from subsidies if you qualify).
How Open Enrollment works
Once you understand the overall healthcare insurance Open Enrollment Period, the next step is figuring out the exact timeline for your state. Most states use the federal marketplace — also known as the Health Insurance Marketplace run by the federal government. It’s a centralized system that sets the standard national schedule for Open Enrollment.
Other states run their own state-based marketplaces, which means they manage the enrollment process locally and can choose slightly different deadlines. Here’s how it breaks down:
Federal Health Insurance Marketplace timeline:
- 30 states (see chart below for exact states) follow the standard timeline of November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026.
- If you apply by December 15, your coverage begins on January 1.
- If you apply after that but before the January 15 deadline, your coverage will kick in on February 1.
State-Based Health Insurance Marketplace (Standard Timeline):
- 13 states run their own marketplaces, but they follow the same dates and rules as the standard national timeline — November 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026.
- The important part for you is the deadlines: enroll by December 15 to start coverage on January 1, 2026, or enroll by January 15 for coverage starting February 1, 2026.
- In these states, enrollment is managed locally through its own health insurance marketplace website instead of through Healthcare.gov.
- The good news is, even if your state uses its own marketplace website, you don’t have to go it alone. With eHealth, you can explore ACA-compliant plans, compare options side by side, and get free help from licensed insurance agents to find and enroll in the right coverage for you, without obligation — all in one place.
State-Based Health Insurance Marketplace (Extended Deadline):
- A handful of states — California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island — give you extra time.
- Their Open Enrollment Period stretches into late January (either the 23rd or the 31st, depending on the state).
- Coverage still follows the same pattern: enroll by December 15 to start on January 1 or sign up in January for a February 1 start date.
States with a Shorter Timeline (Idaho Only):
- Idaho is currently the only state that opens and closes enrollment early, starting on October 15, 2025 and wrapping up on December 15, 2025.
- Anyone who enrolls by that date will have coverage starting January 1, 2026 — and unlike other states, there’s no February start option.
At a glance: Open Enrollment 2026 dates by state
Next, here’s a simple breakdown for 2026 Obamacare Open Enrollment dates by state, including when you’d need to enroll to have your coverage start on January 1 or February 1 (where available):
| Category | States | 2026 Enrollment Dates | Enroll by for Jan. 1 Start | Enroll by for Feb. 1 Start |
| Federal Marketplace (Standard Timeline) – 30 States | Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Delaware Florida Hawaii Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina SouthDakota Tennessee Texas Utah Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming | Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 | Dec. 15, 2025 | Jan. 15, 2026 |
| State-Based (Standard Timeline) – 13 States | Colorado Connecticut Georgia Illinois Kentucky Maine Maryland Minnesota Nevada New Mexico Pennsylvania Virginia Washington | Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 | Dec. 15, 2025 | Jan. 15, 2026 |
| State-Based (Extended Timeline to Jan. 23) – 1 State | Massachusetts | Nov. 1 – Jan. 23 | Dec. 15, 2025 | Anytime in Jan. 2026 |
| State-Based (Extended Timeline to Jan. 31) – 5 States | California District of Columbia New Jersey New York Rhode Island | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 | Dec. 15, 2025 | Anytime in Jan. 2026 |
| Shorter Enrollment Period – 1 State | Idaho | Oct. 15 – Dec. 15 | Dec. 15, 2025 | Not an available option |
FAQs on 2026 healthcare insurance Open Enrollment
Now let’s dig into some commonly asked questions when it comes to yearly health insurance Open Enrollment, so you can be prepared:
1. What happens if I apply on the very last day of Open Enrollment?
As long as you submit your application by the deadline (January 15 in most states), your coverage will start February 1. Just keep in mind that waiting until the last day could create a short gap in coverage if your current plan ends December 31.
2. Can I change my plan after I’ve enrolled, as long as it’s still within the Open Enrollment Period?
Yes, if you enroll early and then change your mind, you can update your plan selection any time before your state’s deadline. Your new choice will replace the previous one.
3. Will my plan always start January 1 if I enroll during OEP?
Not always. To have coverage start January 1, you must enroll by December 15 in most states. If you enroll later (but before the deadline), your plan will usually start February 1.
4. Do these deadlines apply to renewals too?
Yes. Whether you’re signing up for the first time or renewing an existing plan, the same deadlines apply. To avoid any coverage gaps, it’s best to review your options and confirm your plan before December 15.
5. Why is Idaho different?
Idaho operates its own marketplace and chooses to close Open Enrollment on December 15. That makes it the only state where there’s no February 1 start date option.
MMR-3695-2025