Here we are at the beginning of the last month of 2025! I’ll keep it short this week as I want to make sure you have made your healthcare decisions for 2026. Deadlines are upon us! Here are the deadlines to enroll for 2026 by type of insurance.
1/ Medicare open enrollment, the latest date you can make changes to your existing Medicare coverage, is Dec. 7th. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) don’t have enrollment periods. You can apply for them at any time.
2/ The open enrollment period (OEP) for the federal marketplace runs from Nov. 1st to Jan. 15th each year. If you enroll by Dec. 15th, your coverage will begin Jan. 1st. Enrolling later means your coverage starts on Feb. 1st. Check HealthCare.gov. for the details.
3/ The states listed below have their own marketplace system. The table below shows states with deadlines that differ from the federal marketplace. If your state isn’t listed in this table, your marketplace open enrollment period is the same as the federal OEP: Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.
State | Open Enrollment Begins | Open Enrollment Closes |
|---|---|---|
| California | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 31, 2026 |
| Washington, D.C. | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 31, 2026 |
| Idaho | Oct. 15, 2025 | Dec. 16, 2025 |
| Kentucky | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 16, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 23, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 31, 2026 |
| New York | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 31, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Nov. 1, 2025 | Jan. 31, 2026 |
4/ Employer-sponsored health insurance usually has its own enrollment period. Individual companies select and communicate a timeline to employees. *Most employers hold open enrollment in the fall, generally lasting around two to four weeks.
During this time, you can choose or decline your employer’s coverage, add dependents, or make other changes to your benefits. If you miss open enrollment, you may have to wait until next year unless you have a qualifying life event.
Always check with your HR team or benefits portal to find out your employer’s open enrollment period. This is especially important for recent graduates or first-time professionals, who may be more likely to overlook deadlines.
5/ If you miss open enrollment, you typically can’t buy an ACA plan or change your employer coverage until the next enrollment period. While there’s no monetary penalty for missing the enrollment deadline, you may go an entire year without coverage.
In some cases, you may qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP) if you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married or moving. Losing employer-sponsored coverage can also trigger an SEP, letting you sign up for marketplace coverage, COBRA, or a new employer plan. If you don’t qualify, you could try applying for Medicaid or CHIP if you meet specific eligibility and income requirements.
Evaluate Your Options
Beginnings and endings are upon us! This time of year is a time to evaluate your options for health insurance, and also to consider what’s ahead for you in 2026.
Consider what you have in place and ask yourself what’s in place reflects what’s needed for today and tomorrow? Make a little time to reflect and review to end the year strong.
Last week, I mentioned saving dates beginning in January for a Four-Part Workshop Series we’re calling Caught in the Middle. Caregiving is prevalent, and it can be quite a journey, especially for those with children and for those in full-time jobs.
Lucy and I hear it frequently in our work with separate clients. We’ve put this together from the emotional management and practical planning perspectives, highlighting our personal and professional experiences.
If this is something of value for you or people you know, here is the link to check out the details and register: https://lucyseligman.com/caught-in-the-middle or use the QR code below.
Know I’m here if you have questions about how you can plan for contingencies. Book a Time with Lynn for a complimentary 30-minute Zoom with me. If you prefer to Email, pop me a note.
Check out an overview of what I do @ The Living Planner or @ The Living Planner. If pre-planning is on your agenda, my book is a helpful resource: The Living Planner What to Prepare Now While You Are Living © Check it out HERE.
Quote for the week: “The simple act of caring is heroic.” – Edward Albert
May your beginnings and endings bring you joy and fulfillment ❣️ Lynn
#CantPredictCanPrepare #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness