Understanding the Health Insurance Marketplaces

These resources are for anyone shopping (or helping someone shop) for health coverage within the health insurance marketplaces created through the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare.) For healthcare.gov and in most state-run marketplace, the open enrollment period for 2026 coverage started on November 1, 2024 (in all states except Idaho) and ended on January 15, 2026 (in most states.) Eligible people may also enroll in Medicaid at any point during the year and in Marketplace coverage if they qualify for a special enrollment.

8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period

The ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment season began November 1, 2025 and with it come looming changes to the enhanced premium tax credits, increases in out-of-pocket premiums, and changes to Marketplace enrollment and eligibility rules. These higher costs, combined with having to repay any excess premium credits at tax time, could lead to significant coverage losses and push a growing number of ACA enrollees into bronze and catastrophic health plans with lower premiums and higher deductibles over the coming years.

FAQs About the Marketplace and ACA

Find answers to frequently asked questions about buying coverage on the health insurance marketplaces. Over 200 of our FAQs are now available in Spanish.

Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator

The Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator provides estimates of health insurance premiums and subsidies for people purchasing insurance on their own in the health insurance exchanges (or “Marketplaces.”)

Preguntas frecuentes: mercado de seguros de salud y ACA

Calculadora del Mercado de Seguros Médicos