This is the best OEP ever for the ACA for several reasons:
The expanded/enhanced premium subsidies first introduced in 2021 via the American Rescue Plan, which make premiums more affordable for those who already qualified while expanding eligibility to millions who weren't previously eligible, are continuing through the end of 2025 via the Inflation Reduction Act;
A dozen states are either launching, continuing or expanding their own state-based subsidy programs to make ACA plans even more affordable for their enrollees;
100,000 or more DACA recipients are finally eligible to enroll in ACA exchange plans & receive financial assistance!
Nevadans can now enroll in health insurance for 2026: 140 Qualified Health Plans from eight insurance carriers and new Battle Born State Plans for Nevadans to choose from
CARSON CITY, Nev. (November 3, 2025) – On November 1, Nevada Health Link kicked off the Open Enrollment Period for Plan Year 2026 with 140 Qualified Health Plans through eight brand-name private insurance carriers, including the new state-approved Battle Born State Plans (BBSPs). Nevadans can view, compare and shop plans now through January 15, 2026 on NevadaHealthLink.com.
New this year, Nevada Health Link will offer Battle Born State Plans or BBSPs.
Like all plans on the Marketplace, BBSPs will cover all ten essential health benefits, including hospitalization, doctor visits, emergency care, lab work and prescription drugs. These plans are required to be offered statewide, while also meeting specific reduction targets to bring costs down. This is especially significant for Nevadans living in rural areas, who will have more options this year when selecting a plan.
New “Yes, NY” Campaign Encouraging New Yorkers to Enroll in Quality, Affordable Health Coverage
Open Enrollment for 2026 Qualified Health Plans Began November 1 and Ends January 31, 2026
Enhanced Dental Benefits Introduced for 2026
ALBANY, NY (November 6, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health today announced the start of Open Enrollment for 2026 health insurance coverage through NY State of Health, the Official Health Plan Marketplace, launching a new statewide “Yes, NY” campaign to encourage New Yorkers to enroll in affordable, high-quality health coverage. Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
Amid federal health care changes negatively impacting Americans, Get Covered Illinois is here to help.
CHICAGO – Get Covered Illinois kicked off 2026 open enrollment and launched its “Here to Help” campaign across the state.
Open enrollment, which began on November 1 and runs through January 15, is the annual opportunity for Illinoisans to enroll in, renew, or change their health insurance plans. Nearly 466,000 Illinoisans purchased health coverage through Get Covered Illinois during open enrollment last year, a 17% increase from the previous year.
This year, Illinoisans will experience a new marketplace. Enrollees will apply for and enroll directly on GetCoveredIllinois.gov now that Illinois has officially transitioned to a state-based marketplace. They will also have access to increased support that is more tailored to their needs.
I've written multiple times in the past about "Silver Loading," the ACA health insurance policy pricing strategy in which insurance carriers load the extra cost of their Cost Sharing Reduction financial burden (the portion of deductibles, co-pays & coinsurance which they're required to cover themselves for low-income enrollees who select Silver plans) onto the gross premium of those same Silver plans.
It gets a bit wonky, but the bottom line is that Silver Loading results in the gross price of Silver ACA plans increasing significantly even if the price of Bronze, Gold & Platinum plans only go up modestly. This may sound bad, but stay with me.
From the carriers perspective, how the CSR load is allocated doesn't matter much as long as they aren't left stuck with the bill...but pricing the plans in this fashion has major implications for the enrollees themselves.
For nearly a year now, I've been writing about the upcoming expiration of the enhanced ACA premium tax credits (eAPTC) which have been in place for the past five years. They're currently scheduled to expire at the end of December, less than 2 months from today.
Over the past few weeks as the various ACA exchange websites brought their 2026 ACA window shopping live, I've started plugging in different household scenarios to see what actual, real world price hikes look like.
Throughout all of these examples, however, two things have remained consistent:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is kicking off its open-enrollment period for 2026 coverage on Nov. 1 amid uncertainty surrounding the enhanced premium tax credits that have delivered greater affordability and record enrollment across the nation.
This marks the 13th open-enrollment period under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which since its inception has helped tens of millions of Americans access health insurance, including a record nearly 2 million Californians heading into 2026. Today, more than 24 million Americans are insured through a marketplace plan.
HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 30, 2025) — Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, today announced it will hold several enrollment fairs in November to help Connecticut residents shop, compare and enroll in health or dental coverage. They can also renew their coverage. Enrollment fairs are one-day events for customers to get in-person help from experts. The fairs will take place in Danbury, Manchester, Norwalk, Norwich, New London, Stratford and Willimantic. All help is free.
Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1, 2025 and ends Jan. 15, 2026.
When you enroll affects when your coverage starts. If customers enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2025, coverage will start Jan. 1, 2026. If they enroll between Dec. 16, 2025 and Jan. 15, 2026, coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2026.
Denver, Colo.– Health insurance premiums will increase for many people who buy health insurance through Colorado’s official marketplace and fewer customers in 2026 will qualify for financial help to offset those costs, according to a new analysis from Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Most of the cost increase is the result of Congress allowing federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) to expire.
Connect for Health Colorado’s analysis is based on the Colorado Division of Insurance’s announcement of final health insurance premium rates for plan year 2026, and reflects the expiration of ePTCs and the benefit of the introduction of Colorado Premium Assistance, which will reduce premiums for some customers.
On Monday I noted that around 20 state-based ACA exchange websites had launched 2026 Open Enrollment "window shopping," which allows residents to plug in their household information (zip code, ages, income, etc) and browse the various health insurance policies they have to choose from for coverage starting January 1st...as well as whatever federal (and state, in some cases) tax credits they'll be eligible for.
