You Missed Open Enrollment for Health Benefits — What Are Your Coverage Options Now?
Health insurance open enrollment season happens in the fall and early winter for most Americans, whether you get your coverage through Medicare, an employer, or by purchasing on your own via an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
But what if you or a loved one missed open enrollment? What are your options now?
While employer-sponsored, Medicare, and ACA plans have specific windows for enrollment, there are opportunities outside those dates to secure coverage or fill in coverage gaps.
A second chance for Medicare beneficiaries
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2026 ended Dec. 7, 2025, but if you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage and want to change your plan, you have options.
A nationwide Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 through March 31, 2026. During this time, people enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan have the option to:
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Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan better suited to their needs.
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Drop Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare (and add a Medicare Supplement or Part D prescription drug plan, if needed).
According to a recent survey, 48% of Medicare Advantage enrollees are unaware of this secondary open enrollment period. If you think your current Medicare Advantage plan isn’t meeting your needs — whether due to the care provider network, costs, or coverage — you have until the end of March to comparison shop alternative options and make a switch.
Options for people interested in ACA coverage
If you are among the 22 million Americans who buy health insurance on your own, the ACA open enrollment period ended Jan. 15 in most states. But if you missed that deadline, you may still have options.
First, there are special enrollment periods if you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married (or divorced), giving birth to or adopting a child, loss of employer-based coverage, moving to a new state or coverage area, and significant changes in income.
If you experience a qualifying life event, you typically have 60 days to enroll in a new plan. If you earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level (about $63,000 annually for a single person or $128,000 for a family of four*), you may also qualify for government subsidies that can significantly reduce monthly premiums.
If ACA coverage isn’t an option, or if you are between jobs and temporarily without employer-sponsored coverage, it may be helpful to consider short-term health insurance plans and indemnity coverage to help fill in the gaps:
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Short-term health insurance can provide temporary coverage for unexpected illnesses or injuries. It’s typically affordable and easy to obtain, but this option covers much less than ACA plans and may not be renewable or available in all cases.
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Hospital indemnity plans pay you a fixed amount per day or per service if you’re hospitalized, enabling you to use the money to pay hospital bills or everyday expenses like rent or food. However, these plans are not a replacement for comprehensive health insurance.
When considering short-term and indemnity plans, it’s essential to understand these do not offer the protections of ACA-compliant or employer-based coverage. They typically exclude coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, and they lack essential benefits like maternity, prescription drugs, or mental health care.
TIP: While eHealth recommends everyone enroll in comprehensive health insurance coverage, eHealth also offers short-term plans and indemnity plans for people with temporary or special coverage needs.
Don’t forget about dental and vision coverage
Unlike major medical coverage, dental and vision plans can be purchased year-round. These plans are relatively inexpensive and can help improve access to preventive care, such as regular dental cleanings, and help cover the cost of other dental services, such fillings, root canals, and more.
TIP: eHealth offers dental and vision insurance plans online from hundreds of insurance companies nationwide.
If you or a loved one missed out on open enrollment season, there are still coverage options to consider. Whether you qualify for a special enrollment period, need temporary coverage, or want to change your Medicare Advantage plan, there are options.
Whitney Stidom is vice president of consumer enablement at eHealth, a leading online health insurance marketplace that helps consumers confidently navigate their health benefit decisions.