ACA Open Enrollment: November 1 – January 15
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Key enrollment dates
- Medicare Annual Enrollment (AEP)
- October 15 – December 7
- Changes take effect January 1.
- ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment
- November 1 – January 15
- Extended window for late enrollment.
- January 1 effective date
- Apply by December 15
- Enroll or change plans by Dec 15 for coverage starting Jan 1.
- Late ACA enrollment
- December 16 – January 15
- Coverage starts February 1 instead.
Get free enrollment help before the deadline
Free review with a licensed Texas agent based in Katy. We'll tell you honestly if the ACA is still your best fit.
The two dates that matter
Open enrollment for ACA Marketplace coverage runs from November 1 through January 15. Inside that window there are two deadlines:
- December 15 — apply or change plans by this date for coverage effective January 1
- January 15 — the final deadline; coverage starts February 1
Why you should aim for December 15, not January 15
If you apply by December 15, your coverage starts January 1 with no gap. If you wait until late December or January, you can be uninsured for all of January — one accident or illness during that gap comes entirely out of pocket.
December also gets busy. Applications, document requests and carrier systems all slow down in the final days. Starting early means your questions get answered while there is still time to act on them.
Beat the deadline — book your free review
Free review with a licensed Texas agent based in Katy. We'll tell you honestly if the ACA is still your best fit.
Who the ACA Marketplace is for
If your income is lower, or you need pre-existing conditions covered, an ACA Marketplace plan — also called Obamacare or simply the Marketplace — is your only real option. It is the only coverage that must accept you regardless of health history and the only coverage that comes with income-based premium tax credits.
If you are healthy, tobacco-free and earn too much to qualify for subsidies, you may have other options worth comparing — but for most households, the Marketplace is the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
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Related guides
Not sure which deadline applies to you? Let's look together.
Free review with a licensed Texas agent based in Katy. We'll tell you honestly if the ACA is still your best fit.
*Some ACA plans in some areas have a small one-time enrollment fee due to little or no broker compensation. Agency enrollment fees never apply to Medicare products.