What happens if I miss Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is the one window each year when anyone can buy a Marketplace plan, no reason required. Outside it, the door is mostly closed — the exception being a Special Enrollment Period, which a qualifying life event unlocks. The usual triggers are losing other health coverage, getting married or divorced, having or adopting a child, or moving to a new coverage area. You typically have 60 days from the event to enroll, and you may need to document it.

If you don’t have a qualifying event, two paths remain. Medicaid accepts applications all year, so if your income qualifies you, you can enroll any time. And short-term health insurance can bridge a gap until the next Open Enrollment — but it isn’t ACA-compliant, so it can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and leave out essential benefits, which makes it a stopgap rather than a real substitute. Our enrollment guide covers the windows and life events.