{"id":1022,"date":"2016-01-19T15:30:07","date_gmt":"2016-01-19T20:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=1022"},"modified":"2025-12-11T13:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T18:43:19","slug":"missing-open-enrollment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/missing-open-enrollment\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get health insurance after open enrollment ends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open enrollment for the <\/span>federal Health Insurance Marketplace<\/span> typically runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 annually. (However, several states, in the past, have extended the deadline past Jan. 15, so check your local marketplace for details.) During the 10-week period, customers are offered the opportunity to enroll in new healthcare coverage, switch their current health plan to a new one, and\/or apply for cost assistance. Plans that were enrolled by Dec. 15 take effect on Jan. 1 of the next year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you miss the deadline, certain qualifications allow you to get health insurance after the open enrollment period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I get health insurance outside of the enrollment window?<\/b><\/h2>\n

It is possible to obtain health insurance or change your Marketplace plan after the open enrollment period only if you experience at least one \u201clife event\u201d that qualifies for a <\/span>Special Enrollment Period<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that you may not qualify for cost assistance if you\u2019re enrolling in health coverage after the <\/span>annual open enrollment period<\/span><\/a>. Individuals who do not qualify for coverage in <\/span>2026 through a Special Enrollment Period can enroll in health insurance during regular <\/span>ACA open enrollment<\/span><\/a> for <\/span>2026 running Nov. 1, 2025 through January 15, 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are a Medicare consumer, Medicare has several different enrollment periods, including its own Special Enrollment Period. However, unless you have low income (qualifying for a program like Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program, or Part D Extra Help), a late enrollment into Medicare may result in a higher premium, according to <\/span>medicare.gov<\/span><\/a>. If you qualify for one of these low-income programs, you may be able to expand your eligibility for certain parts of Medicare, as well, outside of the usual enrollment periods described above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What you need to know about ACA open enrollment and 2025 health plans<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

How to get health insurance after open enrollment\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking to enroll in a health insurance plan after the Marketplace open enrollment deadline, here are a few options:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Marketplace Special Enrollment Period\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

A qualifying life event for a Special Enrollment Period is defined as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n